Rigel

INGRID 

"For your breakfast." My mom handed me a lunch box. 

"Thank you, Mom." I put the lunch box inside my backpack. 

"Sorry, Ingrid, that's the only thing I can prepare." 

I nodded and started towards heading the front door, but before I could get there, my mother caught my hand. Her eyes were red and glistening. 

"Mom? Is something wrong?" 

She didn't reply. Instead, my mother wrapped her arms around me and supported me against her chest. 

"You are such a blessing to my life and I am so proud of the man you have become. You are more perfect than I could have ever dreamt when I found you back then," She whispered just loud enough for me to hear. 

Her trembling hand gripped me tightly as she continued. "Ingrid, you are my son." 

My mother paused a moment. Tears welled in her eyes as she bit her lower lip in an effort to keep it from trembling. "Never in my life would I think of you as an adopted son."

My mother's breathing came out in strained gasps. She could only gag out the never-ending sobs as I kept my arms tightly around her. 

"You will always be my mother," I whispered softly into her ear.  "Thank you for loving me, as you would your own son. I could never ask for a better mother these last fifteen years." I replied as I kissed my mother on her cheeks while still holding her tightly. 

We embraced each other for a while before I heard Adellia's footsteps walking down the stairs. 

"Take care, mother." 

ADELLIA WALLS 

I sighed, lifting my sluggish body off the bed and leaning against the headboard. I stared holes into the walls and decided that it was time for me to get up from my bed. 

Grabbing a fresh towel from the closet, I entered the bathroom. I turned the shower all the way to the left and set it to a scorching level of heat. Just the way I liked  it.

If my thoughts were to be visible, they would be an inverse explosion. Chaotic turns and twists of light all coming together to form just one idea, one word—Ingrid.

One month. 

It has been one month since he arrived back from his journey. 

I turned off the water and exited the shower. I wrapped the towel around my body and turned to look at myself in the mirror. 

Minutes passed by into what had seemed like an eternity. I looked up gradually and swallowed my saliva. 

Muscles had bulged all over his body, his bulkiness budging through his long-sleeved blue shirt. I could have told his physique was that of a fighter. His scent, one that had been indescribably addictive as I had felt a sudden pull between us.

It was as if my legs had walked on their own accord and soon I found myself standing only a foot from his chest. 

He got taller, I thought to myself. 

His blue eyes had shone with intensity. I hadn't seen anything as beautiful as his eyes before I had met him. They had reminded me of water being blown by a gust of wind.

His features were unlike any other person I'd ever encountered before. His jawline was wide, giving definition to his face. His nose was sharp and his eyes were bright and burning with intensity. His beauty was unparalleled, so indescribable. So incomparable. 

I shook my head and snapped out of my reverie. I headed outside towards my navy blue backpack, that sat on the floor, situated right by my half-empty closet. 

Rigel Academy uniform. 

I grinned widely, grabbed it from the bag, and put it on along with a pair of black stockings. After putting on my black shoes, I was out of my room. 

As I made my way down to the front door, my mother met my gaze, the edges of her lips curling up slightly. I couldn't help but notice that her eyes were a bit red. 

After we parted, I made my way down the front stairs to where Ingrid had been waiting. 

I still recall the immense happiness that took place the moment I saw him. He was gorgeous. His blue-ish eyes gleamed through the light of the morning sun. 

Ingrid turned to me and I felt my heart flutter as he asked, "Are you ready?" 

I staggered back in surprise. I cleared my throat, disconnecting myself from my preoccupied trance, and lifted my gaze to his mesmerizing deep blue eyes. It took a lot of courage to maintain eye contact with him. My fingers felt jittery and I had to ensure that my voice didn't wobble when I spoke, "I'm ready." 

Ingrid nodded and turned around to walk away, but before he could, I stopped him. "Wait." 

He turned around to face me, patiently awaitin for me. His posture was faultless, it made me feel insecure about mine. I stood up a little straighter as I asked him, "Where to?" 

"Central Station." 

I nodded. "Okay." 

-Splash- 

With a splashing sound we teleported away.

SELI FINLEY 

Rigel Academy, the best academy in the entire country. It was the place where the most skilled fighters from all over the country came to study. It was the place for elites among the elites. That was the kind of titan Rigel Academy was. 

The Academy was a boarding school with permission from the high authority. There were sixteen academies throughout the country, and all the academy leaders were people who had powers, even though most of the teachers and students didn't. But in contrast to the Governor, their strengths were different and were used in different ways too. They loved knowledge and wisdom. 

Today was a special day, because I was going to start studying at Rigel Academy, but, 

I couldn't believe I would  be late on my first day at school! 

After arriving at the Station, I took the train to the Special Valley District, where the Rigel Academy was located. The silver colored flying train with a golden pattern on its side was floating on platform nine, waiting for the scheduled departure. I got into the train, and looked for my seat number. 

Five minutes later, the half filled train departed. It went through underground passageways, then appeared on the surface, flying over the vast blue lake.

The morning sun looked charming behind the mountain. The train continued east. Passing through various districts, hills, and also vast grasslands. I watched as a group of wild animals ran down the hill. 

The train passed through other cities, villages, and agricultural fields. Waterfalls could be seen on the walls of the hills. I leaned my face against the train window, smiling while staring out. It's been a long time since I had travelled this far. 

Based on what I had learned from a book I had read when I was a kid, the country I lived in was called Rigel and was led by a minister. Rigel was divided into five provinces—the North province, the Central province, the West province, the East province, and the Rigel province in the southern side of the country, with Rigel City located near the border of Rigel Province and the East Province. 

The City of Rigel acted as the capital with each province led by a governor who also acted as a warlord. These governors had different powers. 

The five governors formed a military council that had the same position as The Council. The Council consisted of normal people who were chosen by the people. Together with the Military Council, they ran the country with the minister as their leader. 

Half an hour passed and I prepared to step out. I carried my backpack on my shoulder and picked up my tote bag. The holographic instructions on the train wall told me that my destination was sixty seconds away. 

The Special Valley District was located in a valley with dense forests. There was no city there, only a few villages where the people worked as farmers, ranchers and hunters. The rest was a well maintained forest.

In the middle of this district was the Rigel academy. Taking up more than a dozen hectares, the academy offered the best facilities and professors.

I looked at the empty station. 

I went down by myself. I stared at the hologram clock at the station pole—half past seven. The inauguration ceremony for new students had already started, so I had to hurry. 

Splash! I teleported toward the center of the valley. The distance between the station and the academy was around twenty kilometers. 

The valley looked peaceful. A dense forest, birds chirping, wild animals passing along the road, herds of elephants who casually chew on the grass.

Ten minutes after teleporting, with sweat drenching clothes, I arrived at the gates of the academy. Rigel Academy buildings looked magnificent and modern. Nobody guarded the gates and the yard with the grass clipped neatly also looked empty. It looked like the residents of the campus were gathered in one building. It wasn't hard to find it. It must've been the tall building resembling a pyramid. The Crescent formation on it's peak really made it stand out. 

I headed towards the pyramid shaped building. When I reached it, a six feet tall door greeted me. I sighed softly.

I pushed with all my might and the door opened with a rumble, allerting all those present. 

Simultaneously, four hundred Rigel Academy students inside the building looked at me. Ninety-nine new students, minus me, lined up in the middle of the hall, three hundred upper-level students sat in tiered chairs that formed a half circle upwards. With twenty-one professors sat behind a long table on the stage. 

I gulped. 

I looked around. The morning sunlight penetrated the roofs and walls of the building. Everyone noticed me who came with a backpack and tote bag. My face was a little stiff, my chest was throbbing strongly, but I wasn't going to back down. I started walking forward. 

Splash! All of a sudden, two students teleported next to me. 

"You may not enter. According to the regulations, new students who are late on the first day of school will be declared failing from the academy and sent home," one of them said seriously.