The final vehicles carrying politicians passed amidst thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd, which intensified as the last vehicles of the parade approached.
High above in the sky, an airship that was usually used to display weather updates suddenly transformed its side screen to showcase two individuals. A boy with a serious appearance and short hair, alongside a girl with vibrant pink hair and a wide, joyful smile, appeared on the airship for the entire city to see. The crowd erupted in ecstatic cheers as the boy and girl approached on a large moving platform.
Both wore the uniforms of their respective academies and waved to the crowd. A large banner displaying the Sunrise City crest waved in the breeze behind them. These two kids were the recommended espers from Sunrise City, chosen to join the prestigious Black Guard. Their names appeared beneath their photographs on the airship's screen: "Chase Aphelion from Crimson Academy" and "Stella Gunvald from Hyperion Academy," they were now officially introduced as Black Guard cadets and became the pride of Sunrise City.
'So she really made it,' Seth thought as he looked at the pink-haired girl wearing Hyperion's uniform and waving at the cheering crowd.
Recommended espers were a rarity, and those who were selected to join the Black Guard were even scarcer. Yet, this year, Sunrise City had managed to produce not one but two Balck Guard cadets, and as such, these two espers were the embodiment of the city's pride.
Following Stella and Chase, another moving platform approached at the same time as the figures on the airship's screen changed once more. This time, a boy with a gentle countenance came into view, and the crest of Nova City could be glimpsed behind him. As the final platform drew closer, the applause and cheers from the multitude waned. Since this esper came from a different city, the crowd wasn't as excited for him as it had been for Stella and Chase. The people's reaction still affected the boy, who appeared visibly nervous as he attempted to smile and wave at the crowd, which had grown noticeably quieter as he passed. Displayed on the side screen of the airship, his name "Isaac Ashford" was already visible.
Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz
Seth's phone buzzed with notifications again. He grabbed the phone and unlocked it to find Jake's messages.
-Did you see it?
Which part?-
-Stella! She entered the Black Guard!
Yeah-
-Aren't you excited?
Of course I am-
I mean-
Our academy successfully got an esper in the Black Guard cadets corps-
-You don't sound excited at all tho
It's just your imagination-
-Oh I get it
-You're sad because you won't be able to get to know her aren't you?
'Geez, even through texts, I can still feel that smug grin,' Seth thought, briefly glancing at the message before setting the phone aside. However, even though Jake had just been teasing him, he had been partially right. Seth just couldn't feel excited. Although he was undoubtedly impressed, he had a lot of mixed feelings. A part of him felt a little sad knowing that he probably wouldn't be able to get to know Stella. However, that wasn't the main reason for his lack of enthusiasm. Watching espers of his age, people he knew, continually grow stronger and improve their abilities only served to highlight his own lack of power.
There were numerous non-awakened espers who felt genuine excitement for such an event, trying to leave their own dreams through those who, unlike them, had the power to do so. However, the difference between them and Seth lay in the fact that they had already accepted that they wouldn't awaken their abilities. They had learned to live with this reality, while Seth remained determined to awaken his ability, no matter the cost. That was precisely why he had decided to participate in the Rising Espers Tournament, despite the discouragement from his teachers. Mrs. Cunningham had not been the first one attempting to talk him out of participating. All of Seth's teachers regarded him as a brilliant student, and to willingly endanger himself to achieve a late awakening, which was essentially a miracle, seemed foolish in their eyes.
This was the root of Seth's current lack of excitement. If anything, he felt a sense of dejection. Observing young, formidable espers brimming with potential and talent was a strong blow for him.
"Self-pity won't get me anywhere," Seth muttered to himself as he turned off the TV and returned to his room.
After a few minutes, Seth was dressed in sportswear.
"Uncle Nick, Aunt Teresa, I'm heading out," Seth said from the doorway.
"Take care," his uncle and aunt replied, their voices laden with drowsiness from their room.
Seth ran as he made his way toward the nearby gymnasium. For the past six years, whenever he felt down, instead of getting depressed, he would sprint to the gymnasium and train nonstop for hours. It was through this relentless training method that he had refined his combat techniques, far surpassing his classmates.
After a few minutes, he reached a large, modern square building. The inscription "Star Gymnasium" adorned the structure's facade. This gymnasium had been Seth's training center for the past six years. Without hesitation, Seth entered the gymnasium.
At the same time, on top of a nearby building, a tall young woman wearing casual clothes and sunglasses observed Seth entering the gymnasium. Once he disappeared inside, she took a step forward, allowing herself to freefall. Despite descending from a fifteen-story building, she landed gracefully on the ground, barely making a sound. She then mwalked to the gymnasium's entrance, disappearing inside.