The former Jake was going to school on foot because it was not far and usually, Chloe accompanied him. Growing up together, they both rarely separated since kindergarten. They were that close and used to hang out together, just like what besties did.
Even though Jake lived alone, Rowland's family had acknowledged his existence as part of the family. Thankfully, his step-dad, Harrison succeeded in becoming the inheritor of Rowland Corp and the new chief of the Rowland Family.
Jake politely declined when Harrison asked him to live together as a complete family. It wasn't because of no reason, Jake was worried that he would eventually make less contact with Chloe, or even more than that for example, the Rowland family member would tell him to stay away from Chloe because she was from a lower-class family.
On the other hand, living together with his mother would make him happier than ever, especially since he had a younger sister and brother. It was all he wanted all along, his dream would eventually be granted.
However, various unpleasant thoughts about separating from Chloe made his dilemma. In the end, he chose to keep living in his apartment, and every weekend he would visit his family.
Months later, Jake felt grateful for his decision. On several occasions, he could determine not every member of the Rowland family genuinely accepted him. Most of them only behaved politely when his step-father was around. Jake would never understand the way of thinking of higher-class people like them.
However, things changed after The former Jake grew feeling for Chloe. It was not feeling towards a friend, more than that. That was the main reason Jake started to make less touch with Chloe since going to Arcadia Academy. In another hand, he kept training his physical fitness, hoping his psychomagic awakened soon.
Lately, he got nightmares, the same nightmares looping inside his dream every night. He was happy because a nightmare was the sign of Somnia development, but still, he was worried that he would suffer from the process, particularly his mental health. Therefore, he decided to ask Chloe for help to wake him up in the morning.
Looking at his right palm, Jake knew that his psychomagic had awakened last night. He could feel the flowing power inside his fist as he clenched his hand.
According to his teacher, Psychomagic was a superpower that wakened within the dream world called Somnia. It was named "psycho-magic" because it was fueled by spiritual energy within Pnumagos or "Soul Vessel".
There were two categories of Psychomagic which were Innate and Inherited.
First, Innate talent meant that the power was born unique and solely to the respective user until it became an inheritance to the descendants, and changed its category.
As the previous paragraph had said, inherited talent meant that the power was being passed down through generations of the family. However, there was a possibility for a child with an innate talent to be born within the inherited lineage.
Jake knew that his mother wasn't a Magian, so the highest possibility for him was inheriting power from the Windfield lineage. Jake clearly understood that Windfield's Psychomagic was a lightning-related power. However, it seemed like his newborn ability wasn't related to lightning at all.
'Does this mean I got an innate talent?' He thought.
Even if it was true, the main problem was Jake didn't know what kind of ability he had, and this kind of confusion bothered him. As he believed, he had enhanced strength and hearing, so his psychomagic had to be related to both. As for now, he thought that the highest possibility was kind of enhancing-related ability.
Being cautious of himself, Jake decided to keep his power a secret for time being until he grasped fully his true ability.
"Did something happen?" A gentle voice pulled Jake from his thought.
He lifted his head and found Chloe was standing there staring at him.
Jake shook his head. "No, why?" He asked in a low tone, showing a straight face.
Looking closely at his manner for a few seconds, Chloe shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I don't know, you just seemed a bit off. Did you hide something?" asked her with changing expression with a serious look.
"Haha.. of course not!" Jake laughed nervously while waving his hand in front of his chest, giving the former Jake typical reaction.
"Are you sure?" furrowing her eyebrows, Chloe raised her tone on the last word.
It made Jake worried that she noticed the vague change in his way of actions. She indeed knew him so well. However, Jake understood that he couldn't keep acting like the former Jake forever. Sooner or later, he would behave freely as Changmin himself.
So Jake was going to walk ahead, but when he was about to do so, Chloe curled her lips. "It's okay, I know you had a nightmare last night, right?"
Jake smiled wryly after thinking that Chloe had unmistakable suspicions about him. As a result, Jake glanced at her. "I know I can't hide anything from you," Jake said and walked ahead, leaving Chloe behind.
"Hey, wait for me!"
"Hurry up, we're about late."
"Yeah, guess what? It was you who had trouble waking up early!" Chloe snorted as she move hurriedly.
Shortly afterward, The gate of Arcadia Academy could be seen. Standing over 9 meters tall and 6 meters wide, The double swing gate was made from high-quality steel filled with patterns and golden ornaments.
Arcadia Academy was one of the best Academies in the Roenith Kingdom. Located in Kyros City, it was a school for both regular students and Psychomagic users. As The King's orders, both commoner and Magian must study general education classes. Of course, they had different final tests and results before graduating.
Knowing these facts recently from the inherited memory, Jake thought it would be impossible to keep the study environment safe and comfortable for all students. Recalling his high school life in Seoul, there were many bullying issues between students, either verbally or physically. But, Arcadia Academy had laws with some severe punishment. It was more strict and harsh for the lawbreaker.
"Don't worry about the dream. I got a feeling you will awaken your power soon. Cheer up!" Chloe spoke attentively. "Okay, I'll go first," she added, approaching the gate. Then, Chloe grabbed her tote bag and scurried ahead.
Gazing at her back from behind, Jake remembered the reason why Chloe left him like that. A clip of memory spawned in Jake's mind. It was from an early time when he and Chloe attended the Academy about a year ago.
• • •
At that time, Jake and Chloe were walking down on Academy's main pathway. Suddenly, a group of seniors approached and told them to halt. Judging from their looks and styles, Jake could tell they were at least from a second-grade family.
"Good morning, Senior." Jake greeted politely, holding the shoulder strap with their right hand in front of his chest.
However, someone who was likely to be the leader of the group gave him a disgusted look instead. "Keep your mouth shut and fuck off! I have a business with this young lady, not you." Giving a malicious smile, the guy named Marcus ordered Jake while giving him a spare glance.
Another guy grabbed Jake's backpack then pushed him away, implying Jake to move ahead and get off from there. After that, the four guys surrounded Chloe.
Stroking Chloe's silver hair, Marcus grinned with a dirty look. "I didn't expect to find a beautiful young lady from a low-grade family. Tell me your name, and maybe you can be my girlfriend for a month."
Instead of looking back at Marcus, Chloe was a bit worried about Jake. She tried to peek through the gap between the two seniors, but Marcus displeased, grabbed Chloe's chin and turned her head toward him.
"How dare you ignore me when I'm talking! It seems your parents didn't educate you well, young lady. It's fine, I can forgive you if you are willing to be my girlfriend. How is it?"
Rolling her eyes, Chloe gave him a sluggish look and then warned him, "let me go and fuck off or... I will scream for help!" She was mocking Marcus by using the same tone when Marcus told Jake to "fuck off".
Hearing Chloe's threat, blood veins popped on Marcus's ruddy face. "Lowly bitch!" Rising his right hand, Marcus was about to slap Chloe when suddenly he felt that his shoulder was grabbed by someone.