Chapter 5: Uncertainties

The morning sun peeked through the windows of Cheol Su's room, casting a warm glow across his face. He stretched, still feeling the weight of last night's thoughts in the pit of his stomach.

As he sat up, he noticed that Ji Yeon's bed was empty. She must have already woken up and gotten ready to explore the school compound . He knew he had to find her quickly.

He got out of bed, quickly getting dressed and making his way to the dining hall for breakfast. The Academy's halls were already bustling with activity as students and staff went about their morning routines. Cheol Su made his way through the throng of people, noticing the varied expressions and appearances of those around him. Some wore the standard academy uniform, while others had their own unique styles. Evolvers with different abilities and backgrounds, all under one roof.

As he took a seat in the dining hall, a chirpy voice broke through his thoughts.

"Hey, newbie! Mind if I sit with you?" a girl with bright pink hair and a mischievous smile asked, pointing to the seat across from him.The girl plopped down opposite Cheol Su, a wide grin on her face. "I'm Hana, by the way. Hana Lee. And don't worry, I'm not as scary as my hair might suggest," she said, sticking out her tongue and making a goofy face.

Cheol Su couldn't help but smile back at her. Her energy was infectious, and he found himself relaxing in her presence.

"Cheol Su," he replied, offering his hand. "It's nice to meet you."As Hana shook Cheol Su's hand, she didn't miss the glint of uncertainty in his eyes. "Ah, so you're the new Evolver everyone's been talking about," she said with a knowing smile. "I can see why the Dean took a special interest in you. He's got a good eye for talent, that one."

Cheol Su raised an eyebrow. "You seem to know a lot about me already," he said, trying to keep his voice casual.

Hana laughed. "Hey, in a place like this, news travels fast.Cheol Su couldn't help but feel uneasy. How had word of his arrival spread so quickly, when the Dean had specifically asked him to keep a low profile? Could it have been Master Yun or Shin Hee Sung who had leaked the information?

He shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away. He couldn't afford to let his suspicions distract him from his goal: to learn how to control his powers and protect his sister.

"See later ? He asks I need to find my sister."Oh, I see," Hana said, recognizing Cheol Su's hesitance. "Well, I hope you find your sister. Maybe we'll see each other again later today. Just remember, I'm always open for a chat if you need someone to talk to."

She stood up, her smile still warm and friendly. "Until then, newbie, good luck on your first day!"

Cheol Su watched as she walked away, her bright pink hair bobbing along with her steps. He felt a bit more at ease now that he had encountered at least one friendly face. The buzz of Cheol Su's phone startled him out of his thoughts. He fished it out of his pocket and was greeted with his sister's anxious face on the screen.

"Oppa, Shin Hee Sung came to the room this morning!" Ji Yeon exclaimed, her voice echoing through the phone's speaker. "He's escorting me to a new school!"

Cheol Su frowned, his brows furrowing in concern. "Shin Hee Sung? Why would he be escorting you ?" Didn't they say your school was opposite mine?

"I don't know, Oppa," Ji Yeon replied, sounding confused. He just came knocking this morning saying" would be taken me to school and that it will be up to me to keep attending after today and that everything was sorted out".

"I thought he was our guide to the Academy. Why would he be the one escorting you to a new school?"

Ji Yeon shrugged, her eyes betraying her uncertainty. "He just showed up and said that I need to enroll in this new school". That's all I know, Oppa." But it's really far away she ended.

Cheol Su paused, trying to process this new information. "Did he say anything else? Like why you were being taken further away ?" , I was told that the school was opposite mine and I saw the place my self ! Cheol Su pressed, his unease growing.

"He just said it would be better for us if we were each at our own schools," Ji Yeon replied. "And that I'd make lots of friends my own age."

Cheol Su couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Why would they be separated so soon after arriving? And why didn't the Dean or Master Yun mention anything about being taken to a distant school for cooperation ?

"I'll make up to you, please bare with it" Cheol Su said decisively. "Oppa, it's okay," Ji Yeon protested. "Shin Hee Sung said it's not as far as it sounds from here. I'll be fine."

Cheol Su hesitated, torn between his instinct to protect his sister and the desire to trust the Academy. "Okay," he relented, "but if anything doesn't feel right, you let me know right away, okay? Promise me."

Ji Yeon nodded, her face solemn. "I promise, Oppa. You don't have to worry about me."

"Good," Cheol Su said, forcing a smile. With their conversation drawing to a close, Cheol Su made sure to tell his sister to have a good first day at school. "And don't forget, I'll be waiting for you at home after school. We'll talk more then," he added, still feeling uneasy about the situation.

With that, he ended the call and returned his phone to his pocket. He glanced around the dining hall, his eyes seeking out Hana, but she was nowhere to be found.Cheol Su was about to make his way out of the dining hall when a loud voice called out to him.

"Hey, fire boy!" a tall, muscular young man shouted, making his way over to Cheol Su's table. "How's it feel to be the new hotshot around here?"

The young man's face was stretched into a wide grin, but Cheol Su sensed that there was something aggressive beneath the surface.

"Excuse me?" Cheol Su asked, surprised by the abrasive greeting. "Name's Woo Jin," the young man replied, his grin faltering for a moment. "I'm an Evolver like you. Heard you had some pretty impressive score in the evaluation. Just wanted to introduce myself."

Cheol Su could feel the tension in the air, and he knew that Woo Jin's interest wasn't entirely friendly. He stood his ground, though, his expression stoic.

"Cheol Su," he said, extending his hand for a handshake. "It's nice to meet you, Woo Jin." Woo Jin grasped Cheol Su's hand, his grip firm and almost crushing

"An impressive one, huh?" Woo Jin said, still holding onto Cheol Su's hand a little too tightly. "I bet you think you're something special, don't you? Well, let me tell you, there are plenty of Evolvers here who can put you in your place."

Cheol Su maintained his composure, refusing to be intimidated. "I'm not here to compete with anyone," he said calmly. "I'm here to learn how to use my abilities safely and responsibly." Woo Jin's grin faded, replaced by a look of disappointment. He let go of Cheol Su's hand, flexing his fingers as if to shake off the residual tension.

"Whatever," he said, turning away from Cheol Su. "Just don't think you're gonna make any waves around here. The strong will always come out on top."

With that, he sauntered off, leaving Cheol Su feeling both relieved and uneasy.

He knew that he would have to be careful at the Academy, especially around Evolvers like Woo Jin who seemed to thrive on competition and intimidation.Cheol Su's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden touch on his shoulder. He turned, startled, to see Hana standing there, a concerned look on her face.

"Phew," she said with a small laugh. "I didn't mean to scare you, Cheol Su. You looked like you were about to set Woo Jin on fire."

Cheol Su let out a sigh, relieved that it was just Hana. "I'm okay," he said, his heart rate slowly returning to normal.Hana leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You're lucky he didn't do worse," she said. "Woo Jin is one of the strongest Evolvers in the intermediate class. And he loves picking on first-year Evolvers like us."

She paused, her expression serious. "I heard he's a level 3 pyromancer. They say he can manipulate fire like nothing you've ever seen."

Cheol Su absorbed this new information, feeling a shiver run down his spine."You should probably steer clear of him as much as possible," Hana advised, her eyes scanning the room as if she expected Woo Jin to reappear at any moment. "He's not the only one around here with an attitude problem, but he's definitely one of the most dangerous."

Cheol Su nodded, taking her advice to heart. "Thanks, Hana. I'll be careful. But I have to admit, it's a little disconcerting to know that someone like Woo Jin is roaming the halls of the Academy.""Yeah, it's not exactly a warm and fuzzy feeling," Hana agreed. "But that's just how it is around here sometimes. The Academy isn't all sunshine and rainbows, even if it is a place for the elite Evolvers of Korea."