A few days after their initial meeting, Theo and Lennox had become friends despite their earlier battle. However, Lennox always found Theo annoying due to his playful nature. Despite this, Lennox learned some valuable lessons from Theo in the academy. Lennox was puzzled by how a grade 2 student could participate in the grade 1 trials just like kira is also a grade 2 student but she never visited. According to Theo, his mentor had made it possible, although Theo hadn't won; the person who came in third place had secured the second position instead.
Lennox's classes for the day had finally ended. In the first month, most classes consisted of introductions, discussions about bloodlines, history, and what they would learn at the academy. he tried to avoid interacting with other students, and they did the same to prevent any trouble.
After classes, it was time for dinner. Lennox had been experiencing an unfamiliar hunger in his stomach every few days, so he was particularly eager for dinner that day. He headed to Nexus Cafeteria, which was filled with students. The others gave him space in the line, allowing him to easily grab his favorite jelly tarts.
Lennox settled at the table farthest in the corner, distancing himself from the other Nexarcs students. As he took a bite of his tart, he glanced around the room, like he was searching for someone specific. 'I don't see Theo anywhere. Where is he?' he wondered.
Normally, Theo would join him as soon as Lennox arrived at the cafeteria. He was always there, cracking jokes and striking up conversations. But today, he was conspicuously absent. Lennox found it unusual, but he shrugged off the concern and continued eating his tarts. After finishing his dinner, he decided to head back to Theo's dorm room in the grade 2 section of the academy, where the rooms were larger and more advanced.
Upon opening Theo's dorm room door, Lennox was surprised to find him already inside, lying on his bed and engrossed in his phone. Lennox closed the door behind him, catching Theo's attention. Theo lifted his head and immediately flashed a warm smile at Lennox.
"Hey, I've been waiting for you two for a while now," Theo said, rising from the bed. "I had a feeling you would come looking for me."
"Why weren't you coming? Or do you have something to do?" Lennox inquired.
As Theo stood up, Lennox noticed a slight mark on the side of his face a small, red, and swollen area.
"What happened to your face?" Lennox asked, his concern evident as he examined the claw-like mark.
"Oh, this?" Theo replied, casually touching the marking. "I got into a little fight of my own, but don't worry, I didn't lose."
"For a Grade Two to tangle with someone, you shouldn't have lost," Lennox said, in suspicion.
"Yep, just a normal fight," Theo replied, chuckling nervously.
"It wasn't just a normal fight, or you would have been in the protected area of the arena," Lennox remarked. "So, who did you fight?"
The atmosphere in the room grew tense as Lennox locked eyes with Theo. The intensity of Lennox's gaze made it clear that something serious was on his mind. As he attempted to speak, a wave of pressure washed over him, making it increasingly difficult to hold back his emotions.
"Okay, okay... Fine," Theo said, his breath heavy. "It wasn't a normal fight. Another Grade Two and his friend attacked me outside the academy."
"See, that's all you had to say... Now, who are the people that attacked you and where are they?" Lennox asked, his expression determined.
"Don't worry, he will get what's coming to him soon," Theo replied, noticing Lennox's clenched fist and growing concerned. "Wait... What are you going to do if I tell you?" he asked cautiously.
"Nothing... I'm just going to have a chat with them," Lennox replied, trying to reassure Theo.
Despite his initial hesitation, Theo opened up to Lennox, sharing the details of what had happened. Lennox, upon hearing the reasons behind Theo's sudden departure, swiftly left Theo's room and headed to the front of the academy.
At the academy's entrance, a massive gate loomed, guarded by two tall sentinels, their eyes ever watchful. Only authorized individuals students, instructors , and certain staff were permitted within the school grounds. Students had to show their badges to the guards when leaving and upon returning.
Lennox took a transport to a nearby island with a city called Vision City. Outside the academy, normal people and even Nexarcs could explore or reside there. Upon arriving in Vision City, Lennox had hoped for a different reception. However, when the city dwellers noticed his Emberflare eye, fear gripped them, causing them to hastily move away, ignoring them. Determined and focused on his mission, Lennox sprinted towards the location Theo had mentioned.
As Lennox strolled down the busy street, he unexpectedly saw Kevin, the boy who, along with his friends, had targeted Theo earlier because he dared to befriend him. While everyone else avoided him, Kevin and his friends had excited an alleyway, wearing smug expressions as they kicked a vulnerable weak looking Nexarc student.
Lennox quickly hid behind a dumpster, resisting the urge to intervene immediately. He couldn't believe his luck he had been hoping to find Kevin, but here he was, right in front of him. Yet, Lennox couldn't ignore the fact that Kevin and his friends were once again tormenting someone.
While Lennox waited, he noticed cracks in the wall behind him that led to the roof of a nearby building.
"Now... Run along and make sure to have my credits next time," Kevin said, taunting the boy. He snapped his fingers, and sparks flew from his hand, frightening the boy even more, causing him to wet himself.
"Eww!" Kevin's friend exclaimed, noticing the boy's accident.
The boy, filled with embarrassment, managed to get up and walk away with tears streaming down his face. Lennox couldn't help but feel sympathy for him, hoping that this experience would teach him a valuable lesson and lead to positive changes in his behavior.
Once Kevin and his friends had retreated into the alleyway, laughing all the way, Lennox made the decision to climb the building using the crack in the wall, allowing him to access the rooftop.
"This will be the perfect vantage point" Lennox, voicing his plan aloud. Meanwhile, inside the opposite building he had scaled, Kira observed Lennox's actions and couldn't help but think he was being reckless. 'What is Twinkle doing? is that idiot trying to get himself killed?' she wondered.
Seeing the dire situation Lennox was about to engage in, Kira swiftly made her decision. She quietly followed him, who was already tailing Kevin and his friends.
"Hey Kev, we're going to collect some gems, you want to join?" one of the boys asked.
"Nah, I think I'll just head back and wait by the academy gate, see if there are any more suckers I can leach some credits from," Kevin replied.
The other two boys looked at each other. They knew what they were doing was wrong, but they felt compelled to participate to avoid getting beaten up by anyone stronger than them. Additionally, they needed to earn money quickly for more resources.
Kevin, however, seemed to derive pleasure from bullying the weaker students, Seeing no one else from the academy around, Lennox seized the opportunity. From his vantage point on the rooftop, he conjured fire in his palm, aiming it down the alleyway at Kevin and his friends.
"Let's do this," Lennox thought.
Lennox then directed his control over fire towards Kevin and his friend. Feeling the heat, they started to panic.
"Whoa!"
"What's happening?"
They exclaimed, but it was already too late. Lennox manipulated his flames, creating a ring of fire around them. They noticed the flames coming from the rooftop and Lennox.
"Who are you? Why are you attacking us?" Kevin shouted in anger.
As Kevin found himself defenseless against the flames, his friends quickly used their earth and vine abilities to create small shields, although they were barely enough to protect themselves. Lennox, realizing he was being targeted, swiftly dodged a powerful arc of lightning aimed at him. The lightning struck the edge of the stone building, causing it to crumble and debris to fall towards the ground below. The situation became even more intense, with elemental powers colliding and the surroundings becoming increasingly hazardous.
"This is for attacking Theo," Lennox said with a smirk.
Realizing the wall of fire effectively surrounded them, Lennox aimed a fireball at Kevin's friend's head. Unable to defend against both the wall of fire and the incoming attack, the fireball exploded on impact, fatally injuring them. The force of the explosion propelled Kevin closer to the wall of flames, intensifying the danger he was in. The situation had escalated drastically, leaving his friends in a state of shock and chaos.
"All this over some money?" Kevin shouted at Lennox in pain, his hand and clothing starting to burn up from the intense heat of the flames.
Lennox jumped off the building, landing on a dumpster cover and then onto the ground. "Is that all you think it was?" he said, his voice laced with annoyance.
Kevin, confused and in pain, couldn't comprehend what had caused this sudden attack. The intensity of the fire became unbearable, triggering his fight-or-flight response. In a desperate attempt to escape, he leaped out of the flames, heading straight for Lennox.
However, Lennox, quick and agile, caught Kevin midair and skillfully twisted his leg, slamming him onto the ground. Kevin screamed out in agony as Lennox further incapacitated him by twisting and snapping both of his legs. The pain was excruciating. Lennox released him and swiftly left the alleyway, his departure masked by the hurried footsteps of multiple onlookers rushing in.
When the horrified witnesses entered the alley, they found Kevin disfigured and unconscious, assuming the worst. The panic among them intensified, believing he might be dead, their shock and confusion mirroring the chaos of the situation.
Kira arrived on the rooftop in shock of what she saw, watching as knocked out Kevin's and observed his deformed body. At the corner of her eye, she noticed a small flicker of azure flame. 'Was this all Twinkle's doing?' she thought, her mind racing with questions and suspicions.