Academy

It's been a rough year. Some nights were sleepless, others were haunting nightmares of the death of my mother.

I roll over and look at the clock on my table, 4:37 am.

My eyes glanced over towards my room door.

My new uniform was hanging from it.

I began to think as i twisted in my bed.

'I have my first day at Kin Corps today, and i'll be running on less than 8 hours of sleep.

My restlessness has grown daily, the more strain I put on myself physically i've noticed only comes back to bite me mentally.

"This sucks." I say after I let out an exhausted sigh

'Mom, am I doing the right thing? Is this worth it?'

My eyes began to feel heavy.

I felt a smile form on in my head as i began to think.

'Finally, i'm feeling drowsy.'

I slowly closed my eyes and felt a wave of relaxation release over my tense body.

"BEEP BEEP BEEP"

What felt like a few seconds was ruined by my alarm blaring

Without opening my eyes I slowly reached over to turn off the alarm to sleep for a little longer.

"AKIRA!"

My Aunt was calling me from downstairs.

"Yes, Auntie Jess?"

"YOU READY TO GO? YOU HAVE TO BE AT YOUR NEW ACADEMY IN 30 MINUTES!"

'30 MINUTES!?'

I shot up from my bed and ran into the bathroom to brush my teeth and get my hair tie. After i tied my hair I darted into my room to get dressed into my uniform.

I took a quick glance in my mirror, I noticed a few minor scars on my face with my hair resting in my ponytail.

I let out an exhausted sigh.

'My white hair still looks the same as it did that day. Even before that day it always looked they same. My mom gave me this sleek white hair, i'm glad i have it but, it reminds me of the pain of that day."

I looked down at my outfit one more time, and headed towards my door. I anticipated my aunt being ready to throw something at me for taking forever to get ready to leave, but was shocked.

"You look great Akira. I'm proud of you."

She came close and embraced me into a hug. She began to stand back and fix my ponytail to make sure each strand was tucked.

"Thank you again, and I mean for everything Auntie Jess."

"Of course Akira, we're all we've got in this world, i'd give anything to see you happy and smiling."

I smiled as she looked at me with her bright, shining look.

I then waited for her to walk out the door, I then closed it after her.

"Aren't you excited? You seem down is everything okay?"

'I wasn't okay, i'm still not used to not seeing my mother, i'm angry, i'm sad, i'm stuck.' That's what i was thinking anyway.

"I'm fine, just a little tired. I didn't get much sleep."

"Oh, would you like something to wake you up? a coffee? anything?"

"No thanks i'll be alright."

"Okay…"

We got in the car and began to drive to the Kin Corps. I didn't mention what the "Academy" actually was, I don't think my aunt would allow me to take part in the thing that got my mother killed.

I stopped thinking about the bad, and decided to just put my headphones on and play some music.

- 20 Minutes Later -

We got to the Kin Corps, and my aunt wanted to walk and tour the place but, I told her I'll call her when I got inside.

I didn't have much time before they wanted me to be present.

"Auntie Jess, I'll call you once I get the time to, I have to run now so I'm not late."

"Alright, alright, Akira make sure you stay safe. I love you, call me as soon as you can."

"Alright, I love you too Auntie Jess."

I paused after I got out of the car and took a long glance at the building in front of me.

'This is Kin Corps? It's smaller than I imaged.. oh well.' I thought to myself

I walked up towards the entrance and, grabbed hold of the doors. Before I pushed them in to enter the building, I was hit with a wave of emotions, some good some bad.

'Is this really the best plan? I want to be strong and help people but I don't even have KEC abilities.'

The reality of the situation really hit and made me think before opening the door to the Kin Corps.

'I lack KEC abilities, but I trained my physical physique and capabilities to a completely different level. Is that good enough?'

I can't be sitting here dwelling on something that I've trained a year for. I have to do this. I will do this.

I brushed the petty emotions aside and I pushed through the door.

My eyes were lit up to behold such a sight. I couldn't believe it.

My brain couldn't make sense of anything going on. The outside of the building looked like a run-down home.

The inside was something out of a fantasy world. Even in my wildest dreams, I wouldn't have been able to create something of this status.

The hall is breathtaking. An architectural marvel that defies the laws of physics and embraces the ethereal nature of the KEC abilities. A vast, open space stretched before me, seemingly boundless.

As I marveled at the main lobby, I was approached by a familiar face walking towards me with a giant grin.

"Akira! Nice to see you decided on joining Kin Corps."

Matsuda Yuuki, the girl who gave me this chance to join Kin Corps last year.

I grinned and greeted her in return.

"Hello Matsuda, it's nice to see you again!"

"Like-wise" she replied.

She glanced at the lobby and then back at me.

"You seem to be amazed by the main hall," Matsuda said looking at me.

I looked from her back to the main hall and replied,

"Yeah, it's nothing like what the exterior showcased"

"That's one of the many good parts about Kin Corps, we can work and train undiscovered, protected, and within the main cities."

She looked proud to be a part of Kin Corps, almost as if this had been a dream of hers since she was born.

My thoughts were cut short when she began to speak again.

"Well, how about we get you around here to showcase some of the things you'll be required to know the locations of?"

I smiled and replied.

"Alright, sure!"

As we walked through the main hall, there were so many people. Some older than me, some younger, and of course some the same age as me. Some people were showing off their abilities, studying, or just talking with friends. As Matsuda and I were walking through the everlasting main hall, another girl yelled her name from behind us.

"MATSUDA!!!"

I turned to meet the gaze of the girl, she was wearing a jet-black trench coat, with a white shirt underneath. She had black pants on, with long platinum-blonde hair. She wore silver accessories and a silver hairpin with moon-stone earrings.

"Matsuda, why did you-"

Her eyes shifted in my direction.

"Oh, I'm sorry my name is, Lyssa Everhart. You must be one of the new trainees who joined off on Matsuda's recommendation."

I opened my mouth to speak.

"uh- ye-yeah that's right. I'm-"

"He's Akira Nakamura."

Matsuda spoke before I could say my name.

"Oh Akira, nice to meet you."

She extended her arm to give me a handshake.

We shook hands and then she looked back towards Matsuda.

"Matsuda, I was going to ask why did you walk off so suddenly, but you never mentioned you were his tour guide today."

"I'm not, I just have free time and he was new so I just decided on it," she replied.

"Oh, I see. Well whenever you get done showing Akira around, make sure to let me know. We do have training today."

"Of course, we have training every day Lyssa. I will come to find you afterward. See you around."

"Great! Also nice meeting you again Akira!"

I smiled and replied, "Yeah, nice meeting you too Lyssa."

Both Matsuda and Lyssa smiled at each other and Lyssa began to walk away in the direction she came from.

"She seems nice."

I said turning towards Matsuda.

"She is nice, a good person too. You guys will probably become good friends eventually."

I nodded my head and we continued walking through the main hall until we turned in the direction of a giant entrance.

"This is the Grand Staircase," Matsuda said walking in the direction of the entrance.

My attention was immediately drawn to the centerpiece of the hall - a magnificent floating staircase that spirals upwards, leading to various levels of the academy. The stairs themselves are made of translucent crystal, imbued with a form of energy that supports the floating effect. Each step emits a soft, luminescent glow, pulsating in harmony with the heartbeat of the academy.

"This place is... amazing.."

I looked around in complete aw.

"Isn't it?" She smiled again but soon her smile faded.

"Hey Matsuda, who is this?"

I turned around and was met with the gaze of a random guy. He is a physically imposing figure, standing at an above-average height with a muscular build. His broad shoulders and intimidating presence made him stand out in a crowd. He has short-cropped, jet-black hair that complements his piercing cold eyes.

Nevertheless, I began to speak

"Uh, my name is-"

"Who told you to speak?"

Before I could reply my body felt like a two-ton weight was laid onto it. The next thing I knew, I was being pressured into the ground. I couldn't even lift my head to figure out what was happening.

"HARUTO! STOP!"

Matsuda's voice echoed throughout the entrance to the staircase.

'Tch'

He made a sound with his mouth as if her asking him to stop whatever he was doing was bothering him.

"Don't think I'm following your orders Matsuda, just make sure you keep your new friend in check."

"Fine, Whatever, just go away." She replied while walking towards me to help me up.

"Are you okay?"

she looked sorry for me

"Uh- I think so, what was that? He wasn't even near me and in seconds I was pushed against the ground, almost as if he was using gra-"

"Yes, he was using gravity manipulation to put you on the floor."

I tried to think, but even that was hard.

'So that's what being affected by a KEC ability feels like... It hurts.. and my world is practically spinning right now. I don't feel so good.'

"You sure you okay Akira? You don't look so-"

"I'm feeling a little dizzy."

Before I knew it the world went dark.