Alexander stepped into the crowded hallway, a hum of excitement buzzing in the air. It was still early, but Nova Vanguard School already felt alive with potential.
Students hurried past in small groups, their voices blending together in a constant stream of chatter about expectations, classes, and new faces. His sharp eyes took it all in, cataloging every detail of his new environment.
He adjusted his backpack, glancing down at his class schedule displayed on the holographic bracelet around his wrist. His second class of the day was Dimensional Warp Mechanics, one of the more specialized courses that had piqued his interest during the application process.
As he moved through the halls, his mind drifted to the other students. Already, the competitive energy was palpable. Some students walked with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance, while others moved quickly, heads down, avoiding attention.
Alexander kept his demeanor neutral, calm but observant. His younger brother was probably navigating through similar experiences right now, though Adrian tended to approach everything with more unfiltered enthusiasm.
The classroom was tucked into the west wing of the massive campus. As Alexander entered, he was immediately struck by the layout of the space.
Instead of traditional desks, students sat at tables embedded with sleek transparent panels. These panels were integrated with personal AI interfaces that responded to thought commands, each screen glowing as students synced their devices.
At the front of the room, a large crystalline display flickered to life, projecting a full-scale model of a warp engine, spinning slowly in midair.
At the front stood a lean figure—Professor Marlin, a stern man with silver hair and sharp blue eyes. He was known to be one of the leading experts in Dimensional Warp Mechanics. His no-nonsense reputation preceded him.
"Take your seats, students," Professor Marlin's voice cut through the room with an air of command.
Alexander quickly found a spot near the front, aware of the few others filing in behind him. One of them—a tall, skinny boy—sat beside him, his gangly limbs awkwardly folded into the desk. He had pale skin and sharp, curious eyes, his focus already darting between the projections in the room.
"You're interested in this stuff, huh?" the boy asked, a smile playing on his lips as he turned toward Alexander.
Alexander glanced over. "You could say that."
"I'm Ryan, by the way," the boy said, offering a hand. "Dimensional Warp Mechanics is kind of my thing."
Alexander shook his hand. "Alexander Hawthorn. I figured, given how quickly you picked a seat near the front."
Ryan chuckled. "Yeah, I've been obsessed with space-time theories for as long as I can remember. Dimensional planes, warp fields, all of it. I'll probably bore you to death if I talk too much about it."
"Don't worry," Alexander said with a smirk. "I'm not that easily bored."
Just as Ryan was about to respond, another figure dropped into the seat on the other side of Alexander. This student was built like a tank—broad shoulders, muscular arms, and a chiseled jawline. He looked like he could bench-press half the classroom.
"I'm Erik," the boy said simply, his voice deep but friendly.
"Alexander," he responded, extending a hand to Erik as well. Erik's grip was firm, a testament to his physical strength.
Ryan leaned forward, flashing Erik a teasing grin. "So, I take it you're not here for the space-warp stuff, huh?"
Erik shrugged, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's interesting, sure, but I'm mostly here for the military program. Combat training, athletics, leadership—those are my strengths."
The classroom door hissed open again, and a familiar face appeared. It was the girl from earlier, the one who had slipped past him when he arrived at the gates. She still moved quietly, her long hair swaying as she took a seat a few rows behind them.
Alexander didn't know her name yet, but he could sense something different about her. She kept her head down, almost as if she was avoiding attention, but there was a sharpness to her movements.
Professor Marlin cleared his throat, silencing the murmurs. "Welcome to Dimensional Warp Mechanics, an advanced course that will test not only your understanding of space-time theories but also your ability to apply them practically in high-stakes environments.
Make no mistake—this is not a class for the faint-hearted. The field of Dimensional Warp Mechanics is the cornerstone of our exploration and colonization efforts. Without it, humanity would still be confined to Earth, and all of you would not be here today."
The professor's words hung in the air as he swiped his hand across the console, activating another expensive display.
This time, instead of a simple 3D model, the display showed the process of warp travel in real time, bending the classroom's very space into a miniature visual simulation. As the walls of the room seemed to ripple and distort, the students watched in awe.
"Dimensional travel is possible due to the manipulation of space-time using highly advanced warp fields," Marlin continued. "We create controlled distortions in space, allowing us to travel across vast distances in moments. However, the theories behind this technology are not static—they are evolving. That is where you come in."
Alexander leaned forward, eyes fixed on the projections. He was hungry for this knowledge, his mind already racing through the possibilities.
For the next hour, Professor Marlin guided them through the fundamentals of warp dynamics, field stabilization, and space-time distortions. It was an intricate balance between science and theoretical mathematics, and Alexander found himself more and more intrigued as the lesson progressed.
Toward the end of class, Professor Marlin paused. "Before you leave, I'll introduce a concept that will be central to your studies moving forward: dimensional resonance. It's the phenomenon that occurs when two dimensions align closely enough that their properties begin to affect one another."
Alexander's interest piqued. Dimensional resonance… something about the concept tugged at his subconscious.
The professor waved a hand again, and the hologram shifted to display a diagram of two dimensions converging, their boundaries flickering as they overlapped. "This resonance can lead to unpredictable results—sometimes disastrous, sometimes beneficial. We're still learning its full implications. Your future in this field will depend on your understanding of these interactions."
Ryan's eyes were wide with fascination, and even Erik looked interested, though his focus remained on the practical applications.
When the class finally ended, the students slowly filed out. As Alexander, Ryan, and Erik walked down the hall, they exchanged their contact information on their wristbands.
The group split up with a swift farewell, as their next classes would be different.
Arriving in the central courtyard again, Alexander noticed a familiar face approaching from the opposite direction.
It was the same girl from earlier, accompanied by another student—a strikingly confident figure with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. This girl was the polar opposite of the first, with a commanding presence that instantly drew attention.
Before he could say anything, the blonde girl stepped forward, her gaze locking onto Alexander's with an unsettling intensity. She smiled, but it was a smile that hinted at secrets yet to be revealed.
"Alexander Hawthorn, right?" she asked, her voice smooth yet assertive.
"Yeah," he replied, sensing something important was about to happen.
The girl extended her hand. "I'm Alexis Ward. I think we should talk—privately."