Beep-beep!
Bang!
With a swift slam, Alexander shut off the alarm, its ringing still echoing faintly in his head. He groaned, blinking away the remnants of sleep as he stretched out, his muscles tight and unyielding.
'First day, huh?' he thought, gazing at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Staring back was a sixteen-year-old with sharp brown eyes and dark hair, both neat and yet somehow disheveled in that controlled way.
His uniform—pressed to perfection, blue and white—rested on his slim frame. He took pride in that, the careful grooming, the way he stood straight even when he was brushing his teeth.
Alexander left his room, pulling the door shut with a soft click, and stepped into the hallway outside. His brother, Adrian, was probably long gone, already off to school. Always the early bird.
'I've got an hour,' he thought, adjusting his backpack. 'Might as well enjoy it.'
He jogged to the nearby park, the cool morning air brushing his face, refreshing him more than the shower he'd taken earlier. The quietness of the streets, punctuated only by the distant hum of cars, felt strangely comforting.
After finishing a quick lap, Alexander called for a taxi.
The vehicle smoothly picked him up and took off into the air, joining the swarms of other transports weaving through the towering structures.
Skyscrapers pierced the clouds, their glass and steel reflecting the early morning light. Hovering vehicles glided between them, like birds flitting through a concrete jungle.
He stared out the window, his thoughts wandering.
Ding!
The taxi came to a gentle halt. Without looking at the front, Alexander waved his left wrist, and a soft beep confirmed the payment.
He stepped out, grabbing his backpack, and joined the flow of students filing through the gates of N.V.S.—Nova Vanguard School.
Nova Vanguard School, a beacon for the elite of Earth's youth, was like no other.
It towered before him, a testament to human ambition and advanced technology, designed to produce the next generation of leaders, scientists, and thinkers.
Today marked its official opening, and Alexander was part of its inaugural class. This wasn't just any school—it was 'the' school. One that would prepare him for a future on Earth, or one of its many colonies spread across the solar system.
Despite the sea of students dressed in identical blue-and-white uniforms, each carried themselves differently.
Some strolled in with the bare minimum—a backpack slung over one shoulder. Others were trailed by security guards, their footsteps deliberate and refined, indicative of their status as first-class citizens.
Alexander grinned, unable to help himself. This was his world. Competitiveness simmered beneath the surface of the school's pristine exterior, and he was ready for it. More than ready.
As he entered, a soft voice broke through his thoughts.
"Excuse me."
He turned to see a girl slip past him, her long brown hair flowing behind her. She gave a polite nod before joining the crowd streaming toward the auditorium.
Alexander followed, finding his way into the massive hall. It was far larger than he expected. Rows upon rows of seats stretched out before the stage, and soon they were filled with excited murmurs as the students took their places.
Minutes later, a tall man with graying hair and a sharp gaze stepped onto the stage. His presence commanded attention, and the room fell silent as he took the microphone.
"Good morning, students," his voice rang out, steady and authoritative. "I am Dr. Orion Veldan, and I have the honor of being your principal."
He paused, surveying the room, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"You are here because you are the best. The brightest. Each of you has been chosen not for what you are now, but for what you can become. Nova Vanguard is not just a school. It is a forge. Here, you will be shaped, tested, and transformed. And when you leave, you will be more than you are today. You will be the vanguard of humanity's future—whether that future lies on Earth or among the stars."
A murmur spread through the crowd, but the principal continued without hesitation.
"However, do not mistake privilege for safety. You were chosen because you can handle what lies ahead. You will not be coddled here. This will be the hardest thing you've ever done. But if you can endure, you will leave this place prepared for any challenge that awaits you, no matter where you go. Whether in the corporate boardrooms of Earth or on the frontiers of Mars and beyond."
Dr. Veldan's gaze seemed to pierce through the very souls of the students seated before him.
"Now, go. Begin your journey."
As Dr. Veldan's words settled in, a charged silence hung in the air, broken only by the soft shuffle of students adjusting in their seats.
Alexander felt a slight chill run down his spine—not from fear, but from excitement. It was as if the principal's words had flicked a switch inside him, igniting a spark of resolve.
'This is it. This is what I've been waiting for,' he thought, clenching his fist just slightly, feeling the fabric of his uniform tighten around his knuckles.
As students began to file out of the auditorium, Alexander moved with the current, his steps purposeful, yet his mind swirling with thoughts.
He glanced around, studying the faces of those around him—some wide-eyed with awe, others already calculating their next move.
Among the crowd, a few figures stood out, their confident strides and sharp gazes betraying a natural sense of superiority. These were the ones who already knew they were exceptional, perhaps born into privilege, or molded from an early age for greatness.
'They'll be my competition,' Alexander mused, but the thought didn't intimidate him.
The halls of Nova Vanguard were vast and innovative, every inch of the place meticulously designed. Walls lined with holographic displays cycled through updates on school events, class locations, and even the interplanetary news.
'Reports of strange events…cracks in the sky, disappearing figures. That's…interesting, I guess.'
Alexander caught sight of a particular news headline. Its contents were very much unbelievable, especially due to the lack of evidence, but it provided good entertainment and an interesting subject to talk about.
Above, glass ceilings offered glimpses of the skyline, where the blue of the Earth's atmosphere was streaked with the faint outlines of orbital colonies.
As Alexander approached the central courtyard, he spotted his first-year brother, Adrian, among a cluster of students.
Adrian was gesturing animatedly, his usual exuberance on full display as he shared what was likely a wild theory or some over-enthusiastic prediction about their time here.
Alexander smiled faintly—Adrian always had a way of seeing the world in colors that others couldn't.
Their eyes met across the courtyard, and Adrian gave a quick nod, his expression shifting for just a moment into one of focused intensity. It was their silent communication—a promise, almost.
"Hey, Alexander!" a voice called from behind.
He turned to see a familiar face—Marcus. A competitive, sharp-tongued friend from their old school. Marcus had also made it into Nova Vanguard, though Alexander wasn't entirely sure how. Marcus had a habit of landing on his feet, even when things should've gone south.
"Did you catch the old man's speech?" He asked, falling into step beside Alexander as they made their way toward their first class. "That guy's intense. He basically said, 'Survive or die trying.' Not exactly what I expected for an opening day."
Alexander smirked. "What did you expect? Free passes and field trips to Mars?"
"No," Marcus shot back, "but a little less of the 'forge' metaphor, maybe? He sounded like he's preparing us for war."
"Maybe he is," Alexander replied, his gaze fixed ahead. "Nova Vanguard isn't like any other school. You heard him. They're training us for something bigger than just getting through the next few years. This place is going to push us. Break us, even."
Marcus snorted, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "Yeah, well, I guess we'll see."
As they entered their first classroom, Alexander took a deep breath, letting the reality of his new life sink in. The room was state-of-the-art—holographic projectors in every corner, desks equipped with touchscreens, and gadgets that would respond with a single command.
'This is it,' Alexander thought again, his resolve solidifying.
Their teacher, a tall woman with short silver hair and a strict demeanor, stepped to the front.
She didn't waste time with introductions, simply bringing up a series of complex equations on the holographic display behind her.
The subject was Advanced Quantum Dynamics, and it was clear from her expression that she expected the students to keep up without needing much hand-holding.
"Let's see how sharp you are," she said, her voice cool and measured. "Solve this."
The room stilled as students turned their attention to the problem on the screen. It wasn't basic by any means—this was the kind of equation most people would balk at.
Alexander's mind clicked into gear. He didn't hesitate, his fingers tapping rapidly across the touchscreen of his desk as he worked through the solution. He could feel the pulse of competition rising in the room, students glancing around, measuring each other's progress.
Within minutes, a soft chime rang from Alexander's desk. He'd solved it. He glanced at the screen, satisfied, but remained quiet. There was no need to draw attention. Not yet.
The teacher scanned the room, her eyes narrowing as she looked for signs of struggle. But when her gaze landed on Alexander's screen, she gave the faintest nod of acknowledgment before moving on.
That was enough. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
As the class progressed, Alexander could feel the rhythm of Nova Vanguard settling into his bones. The pace was relentless, the expectations high, but he wouldn't have it any other way. He wasn't here to be comfortable. He was here to excel.
And he wasn't alone.