In the dimly lit student council room, the air buzzed with tension as the top five ranked students gathered around a sleek, obsidian table. Holographic screens flickered with footage of Alex's spar with Jin, replaying his uncanny dodges. Jin, the third-ranked student, slouched into his seat, his serpent-like tattoos coiling restlessly across his arms. The others—Rank 1, a stoic boy named Kai with gravity manipulation; Rank 2, a sharp-eyed girl named Rhea with telekinetic prowess; Rank 4, a quiet boy named Zane who controlled sound waves; and Mia, Rank 5, with her light-based abilities—turned to him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
"Why'd you go easy on him, Jin?" Zane asked, his voice low, vibrating the air slightly with his power. "He's powerless."
Jin leaned back, rubbing his neck. "At first, I was just testing him. Thought it'd be a quick flex. But…" He paused, glancing at the footage. "He was watching me. Every move, every twitch. It was like he knew where I'd strike before I did. If he had powers, he'd be a problem. A big one."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "A powerless guy dodging you? That's not normal."
Mia leaned forward, her golden eyes glinting. "He's not just some nobody. He's Lily's son, Alice's brother. There's something about him."
Rhea, the second-ranked student, tapped her fingers, objects around her floating slightly from her telekinesis. "He's drawing attention. Tomorrow, during training with the teachers, we test him. Mia, you're up. Push him, see what he's really made of."
Mia's smile was sharp. "Gladly."
Meanwhile, in Lily's sleek SUV, Alex, Alice, and Nyx recounted the day's events. The city lights blurred past as Alice, her voice animated, described Alex's spar with Jin. "Mom, you should've seen it. He held his own against a top-ranked student. Dodged every hit like he was reading Jin's mind."
Lily's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her smile warm but her eyes sharp. "Alex, you need to be careful. Drawing attention like that… it's risky."
Alex shrugged, pushing his glasses up. "I just wanted to see his powers. They were cool. I'll be more careful, promise."
Lily and Alice exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. Alex, oblivious, turned to Nyx. "So, your void powers—how do they work? And how'd you and Alice meet?"
Nyx grinned, leaning closer, her gothic vibe contrasting her playful tone. "Alice and I go way back to middle school. Hated each other at first. She'd try to slice me with her shadows, I'd trap her in a void pocket. But we kept fighting, and… I dunno, we started respecting the challenge. Bonded over kicking each other's butts."
Alice smirked. "You still can't beat me."
"Keep dreaming," Nyx shot back, laughing.
They arrived at the mansion, its grand doors opening to reveal Clara, the maid, who greeted them with a warm smile. Inside, Alice and Nyx headed to Alice's room, while Lily pulled Alex into the kitchen. The marble counters gleamed under soft lights as she poured him a glass of water. "Are you really okay?" she asked, her voice soft but probing. "Was school too much?"
Alex grinned, his eyes bright. "It was fun, Mom. The powers… they're incredible. Like Jin—he makes weapons from his tattoos! I figured out his patterns by watching his shoulders. They tense before he shifts his ink."
Lily's smile faltered, worry creeping in. "You're too good at this, Alex. Analyzing like that draws attention." She softened, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "I'm happy you're enjoying yourself, though. Later this week, you'll come with me to a Hero Organization meeting. A chance to see more of this world."
Alex's face lit up. "For real? I'd love that!"
After their talk, he headed to his room, sprawling on his bed. Alice and Nyx barged in soon after, flopping onto the couch in his room. Alex sat up, curious. "So, who are the other top-ranked students? What're their powers?"
Nyx smirked, glancing at Alice. "Kai, Rank 1, manipulates gravity—can crush you into the ground or make you float helpless. Rhea, Rank 2, telekinesis; she's precise, can rip your weapons apart mid-fight. Zane, Rank 4, controls sound—think sonic booms or whispers that mess with your head. And Mia, you know her. Light powers, deadly and flashy."
Alex nodded, absorbing it. "Sounds intense. Any… events I should know about?"
Nyx's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Should we tell him about the ring, Alice?"
Alice glared. "Nyx, no."
Alex leaned forward. "What ring?"
Alice sighed, but Nyx plunged ahead. "Once a week, after school, some students hit up an underground fight ring. No rules, big bets. It's not just us—heroes, villains, other schools. Things get bloody."
Alex's eyes widened. "That sounds… awesome. Can I come?"
"No way," Alice snapped. "It's dangerous. People die sometimes."
But Alex's excitement was unstoppable. "Please, Alice. I'll just watch, I swear. I won't draw attention."
Alice groaned, relenting. "Fine. But you cannot tell Mom. And you stay low-key. Rules there don't stop killing."
"Deal," Alex said, grinning.
They talked more, Alex prying about their fight records. "Alice has, what, twenty wins?" Nyx said. "I've got fifteen. She's a beast."
Later, after the girls left, Alex's phone buzzed. Serena's name lit up the screen. "Hey!" she chirped when he answered. "Today was wild, right? I'm so glad we finally met."
"Same," Alex said, his cheeks warming. "Didn't expect you to be… you know, you."
She laughed. "Hope I didn't disappoint. Night, Alex."
"Night," he replied, hanging up with a smile. As he climbed into bed, Alice slipped in, her routine of cuddling up beside him unchanged. They talked quietly about the day, her voice softening as she warned him again to be careful. Soon, they drifted off, her arm draped protectively over him. In the dean's office, Dr. Veyra sat at her desk, the spar footage paused on her screen. Varen stood nearby, her arms crossed. "He's not just smart," Varen said. "He's reading people like they're open books. I want him as my personal student. Powerless or not, he's got potential."
Veyra's red eyes narrowed. "No records on him before Lily registered him. Not a whisper. It's… suspicious."
Back at the mansion, as Alex slept, the city hummed with whispers of the powerless boy who'd outmaneuvered a top student. In the shadows, plans were forming—some to test him, others to watch him closely. And somewhere, Mia's golden eyes glowed, her mind racing with possibilities.