Adrian Hawthorn stood at the edge of the central courtyard, his gaze fixed on the distant skyline where towering spires and glinting glass stretched toward the clouds.
The morning sun glimmered off the sleek surfaces of Nova Vanguard's campus, casting long shadows across the meticulously landscaped grounds.
Unlike his brother, Adrian had a natural ability to lose himself in the small, intricate details around him—whether it was the way light danced on glass or the shifting expressions of the students as they hurried to their classes.
For Adrian, everything was a curiosity waiting to be unraveled.
He pulled up his holographic schedule, embedded into the wristband he wore like every other student, and checked his next class. Mathematics. A basic, yet essential class.
As he walked toward the east wing, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Adrian!"
He turned to see Marcus hurrying toward him, looking slightly out of breath. Marcus had always been a bit of an enigma—a mix of easygoing charm and surprising intelligence. Adrian had met him back in their old school, and they had developed a friendly rivalry in practically everything they did.
"Hey, Marcus," Adrian said, his grin widening. "Excited for your first day, or are you already regretting signing up for all this?"
Marcus didn't respond, instead he clicked a few holographic buttons emitted from his left wrist, as a shocking display was revealed
It stated 'Alexander Hawthorn, Status: Missing'.
This was from the common 'Contacts' app that was installed in each of these smart bands, and it was updated by the government itself. This meant that Alexander was truly missing—at least, according to the government.
Adrian's mind raced as they made their way toward the main academic building. Alexander had been acting completely normal that morning—there was no reason for him to just vanish. Unless…
'Something's off,' Adrian thought, the familiar feeling of suspicion creeping into his gut. His brother was smart, capable, and wouldn't disappear without a reason. That meant something had happened—and whatever it was, it wasn't good.
"Do you think it's serious?" Adrian asked, glancing sideways at Marcus.
Marcus shrugged. "Hard to say. But you know how this school is. There's always something going on behind the scenes, and not everyone is playing by the same rules."
Adrian's mind clicked into action. He needed to find out what happened, and he needed to do it fast. His brother could be in trouble, and sitting around waiting for answers wasn't going to cut it.
They reached the main building, and asked the officials to conduct a search.
"I'm afraid we can't do that. We have explicit orders not to search for Alexander Hawthorn."
The duo left the building in frustration, Adrian barely stopping Marcus from shouting at the guards.
Standing at an empty clearing, Adrian made a quick decision. "I'm going to check the security feeds."
Marcus blinked. "Wait—security feeds? How are you going to do that?"
Adrian didn't answer right away. Instead, he pulled out a small, sleek device from his pocket—a custom-built interface he had been working on for months.
While it looked like a simple wristband attachment, it was anything but. It was his key to bypassing Nova Vanguard's strict security protocols, something he had designed for emergencies just like this.
"Let's just say I've been preparing for this," Adrian said with a smirk, his fingers tapping across the interface as they moved quickly into a nearby maintenance corridor.
Marcus looked impressed. "I always knew you were good with tech, but this is next-level."
Adrian focused on the task at hand. He linked the interface to the school's security network, his eyes scanning the display as lines of code streamed across the screen.
"It's not about being good—it's about knowing how the system works. And trust me, Nova Vanguard may be cutting-edge, but it's not foolproof."
With a few more taps, Adrian was in. He quickly navigated through the various camera feeds, scanning through the hallways, classrooms, and courtyards.
Before they could continue, a duo of two young men—one skinny and tall, and the other exceptionally fit—approached them.
"Ah! Are you Alexander's brother?" The skinny one asked.
"Yes? Who are you?" Adrian responded, not as kindly as he would have liked.
"Phew! Thank god we found you, guess the locator app really does work." The skinny one said.
The muscular one quickly explained. "My name is Erik, and this is Ryan. We're Alexander's friends."
"Alright, but I'm afraid I don't have the time." Adrian said, returning his gaze to his device.
"There," Marcus pointed at one of the screens. "That's Alexander, right?"
Adrian's heart skipped a beat as he saw his brother on the feed, walking alongside a girl with long blonde hair, and another girl at her side. They were heading toward one of the school's private meeting rooms—an area not accessible to most students.
"You found him!? How do you have access to the security footage?" Ryan asked, relief apparent in his face.
"It's a long story." Adrian responded.
"Who's that with him?" Marcus asked, leaning closer to the screen.
Adrian's jaw tightened. He didn't recognize the girls, but there was something about the way the taller one carried herself—confident, commanding. Whoever she was, she wasn't just a regular student.
"That's what I'm going to find out," Adrian said, closing the feed and pocketing his device. "Let's go."
The four of them hurried through the building, navigating the labyrinth of hallways as they made their way to the meeting rooms. Adrian's mind raced with possibilities, but one thing was certain—Alexander wasn't just meeting with some random student. This was bigger than that.
As they reached the corridor outside the meeting room, Adrian stopped, taking a deep breath. He could hear faint voices from inside, though the words were muffled. He glanced at Marcus, who gave him a nod of encouragement.
Adrian stepped forward and pressed his hand to the door, pushing it open just enough to slip inside.
***
Alexander stared at Alexis Ward, her intense gaze locking onto his. Her confident demeanor unsettled him slightly, though he didn't show it.
He'd learned early on in life that maintaining composure in situations like these was vital. He'd encountered enough competitive rivals and strategic thinkers to recognize when someone was operating on a different level, and Alexis was no ordinary student.
"Privately?" he echoed, his curiosity piqued. "What's this about?"
Alexis glanced around, ensuring no one was within earshot—aside the girl next to her and Alexander.
She gestured for him to follow her. Without waiting for a response, she started walking toward one of the quieter wings of the campus. There was something deliberate about her pace, as if she had planned this encounter down to the last step.
For a moment, Alexander hesitated. He didn't like walking into situations without knowing the stakes, but something about Alexis told him this wasn't just a casual conversation.
He followed, keeping his guard up as they moved through the winding halls.
When they reached a private meeting room, Alexis turned to face him, her expression unreadable.
"I know who you are," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I know about the competitions you've entered—under anonymous aliases, of course—and I know you've won more than anyone your age, probably more than anyone across all the colonies."
Alexander's expression remained neutral, but inside, a flurry of questions rushed through his mind. He had been careful to hide his identity in those competitions, not out of secrecy but to avoid the unnecessary attention. So how did she know?
Alexis continued, stepping closer. "You're not like the others here. Your potential is far beyond what Nova Vanguard expected, and I have access to… information you won't find in the school's databases." She paused, her blue eyes boring into his. "But I didn't bring you here just to flatter you. There's something happening—something far bigger than any of us."
Alexander crossed his arms, skeptical. "And why tell me this? You barely know me."
Alexis smirked. "I approached you because I believe you're capable of handling this information wisely. The future of humanity is at stake, and Nova Vanguard is more than just a school. This institution was created to prepare us for what's coming—an event that will change the course of our civilization."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Alexander didn't respond immediately, letting the silence stretch between them as he tried to make sense of what she was saying.
It sounded far-fetched, but something about her demeanor suggested she wasn't exaggerating.
"What exactly is happening?" he finally asked, his tone cautious.
She sighed, pulling out a sleek tablet and holding it out to him. "This is everything I know, but you'll only get the details if you sign this contract. No one else can know unless they also sign."
Alexander didn't take the tablet. Instead, he frowned. "I'm not signing anything until I understand what this is about. And if it's as serious as you claim, I'm not agreeing to anything without including my brother. He has a right to know."
Alexis's eyes narrowed. She considered his words for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Fine. I'll allow your brother to be involved—but only if he passes a test."
Alexander's frustration flickered, but he hid it well. "A test?"
She smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "You'll see. They have ten minutes. If your brother and anyone else you trust can find you before time runs out, without your interference, I'll give you the contract and tell you everything."
With that, Alexis stepped aside, and the room's lights dimmed. She moved to a sleek console by the wall and entered a few commands, likely sending out the false message marking Alexander as 'missing' through the school's official systems.
It didn't take long before Alexander's wristband beeped softly—his status had just changed.
Alexander gritted his teeth but remained composed. He glanced at his wristband, knowing that Adrian would receive the notification—and knowing his brother, he would waste no time in figuring out what had happened.
"Their time starts now," Alexis said, leaning back against the wall, her arms crossed.
Alexander leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. He could only hope that Adrian was fast enough, and that he wasn't alone.
***
The room was dimly lit, with Alexander seated across from Alexis Ward, the blonde girl who had been walking with him earlier.
The shorter girl, to her right—fidgeted from time to time, as though she were slightly uncomfortable from all that was happening.
Alexander's eyes flicked to Adrian's as the door creaked open, a brief smile of relief crossing his face. Adrian stepped forward, with Marcus, Erik, and Ryan following closely behind. The four of them stood at the entrance, the tension in the air thick.
"You made it," Alexander said, his voice calm but with a hint of gratitude.
Adrian's eyes narrowed as he turned to Alexis, who hadn't moved from her spot by the wall. "What's going on here? And who the hell are you?"
Alexis didn't flinch under Adrian's glare. Instead, she gave a slow, calculated smile.
"Congratulations. You passed the test." She lifted the tablet again, holding it out toward the group. "I'll keep my promise. All of you have earned the right to know what's coming."
Alexander stood, glancing briefly at his brother before reaching for the tablet. He took it cautiously, scrolling through the data displayed on its sleek surface. His eyes scanned the text, his expression growing more serious with every passing second.
Finally, he looked up at Alexis. "This… This can't be real."
Alexis's smile faded, replaced by an expression of grim determination. "Oh, it's very real. And if you want any chance of surviving what's coming, you'll have to trust me."
The four boys exchanged uneasy glances, but the weight of her words settled heavily on them all. Whatever Alexis was about to reveal, it was far bigger than they could have imagined.
***
The room was filled with a tense silence as Alexis Ward watched Alexander and his group, her piercing gaze unwavering. The screen of the tablet in Alexander's hand cast a faint glow over his face as he skimmed the contents, his expression darkening with every passing second.
Adrian, Marcus, Ryan, and Erik shifted uneasily behind him. Though none of them could see the details yet, the tension in Alexander's posture said enough. Something serious was happening, and Alexis held the key.
Alexander finally handed the tablet to his brother. "You should see this."
Adrian took it cautiously, eyes scanning the screen as the information poured in. His usual curiosity morphed into shock as he absorbed the revelations on the display.
Marcus leaned in, his usual carefree expression slipping into a frown. Erik stood a little straighter, his military training kicking in as his mind tried to process the gravity of what they were about to face.
"This… this can't be right," Adrian muttered, his voice low but tense. "Are you sure this isn't some kind of elaborate joke?"
Alexis crossed her arms, her face deadly serious. "Do you think I would go through all this trouble just to play a prank on you?"
Adrian glanced at her, then back at the tablet. "No, but… this is insane. How can this be happening? How has no one outside the school picked up on it?"
"Because the information is being controlled," Alexis replied smoothly, her voice calm but laced with urgency. "The UCSC and Nova Vanguard have been preparing for this for years, and they've managed to keep it under wraps. Until now."
"What exactly are we dealing with here?" Erik asked, stepping forward. His muscular frame towered over the others, but his eyes were focused on Alexis.
"I've seen plenty of high-stakes situations before, but this… dimensional resonance? A collapse between two worlds? How is that even possible?"
Alexis met his gaze, her expression unwavering. "Arcadia is not just some far-off dimension we stumbled across. It's been drawing closer to us for years, but it wasn't until recently that we realized the two dimensions are on a collision course. Think of it like two planets slowly being pulled toward each other by gravitational forces. Eventually, they'll merge."
"And when that happens?" Marcus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The lines between the two dimensions will blur," Alexis explained. "People from our world will gain powers they could never have imagined. Some will awaken 'traits'—innate abilities that tap into the energy of Arcadia, called mana. But with that power will come chaos. Creatures from Arcadia, forces beyond our understanding, will seep into our world. Governments, societies… they're not prepared for what's coming."
Adrian lowered the tablet, his face pale. "So, you're saying that in a week—"
"In less than a week," Alexis interrupted, her voice growing cold. "The first stage will begin. People on Earth will start awakening their traits. Some may see it as a blessing, but it will be the beginning of a much larger storm. By the time the full dimensional collapse is underway, it may be too late to stop it."
The room was quiet as the group processed the enormity of what she was saying. The future of humanity was on the verge of irrevocable change, and they were standing on the precipice of that event.
They didn't want to believe her—this…fantasy. But her last name—Ward. She was related to the district mayor, a position that likely warranted her knowledge of this.
Alexander broke the silence. "Why tell us this? Why not just let things unfold?"
Alexis's eyes hardened. "Because Nova Vanguard was created for this purpose. This school was built to gather the brightest, the most talented, the ones with the greatest potential. You weren't chosen just for your academic abilities—you were chosen because you are the future leaders, the ones who will need to guide humanity through what's coming."
She turned her gaze directly to Alexander, her voice lowering to almost a whisper. "I'm telling you this because I believe you're capable of handling the truth. You have more potential than anyone else here. And if we're going to survive what's coming, we need people like you leading the charge."
There was a heavy pause before Marcus broke the silence, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"This is crazy. You're talking about the end of the world as we know it, and you're just throwing it on us like it's nothing?"
"It's not the end of the world," Alexis corrected, her tone sharp. "It's a new beginning. But how that beginning unfolds depends on us—on whether we're prepared."
Ryan finally spoke, his voice quieter than usual. "So what do we do now? Just… wait for it all to start?"
Alexis shook her head. "No. Waiting is the worst thing you can do. You need to prepare yourselves. Learn as much as you can, train, grow stronger. Because when the collapse happens, those who aren't ready will be swept away by the chaos."
She tapped a few buttons on her wristband, and the tablet in Adrian's hand beeped, displaying a new set of instructions. "This contract will bind you to the information I've just shared. No one outside this room can know about what's coming—not until it's too late for anyone to stop it."
Adrian scrolled through the contract, frowning as he read the fine print. "So, we're supposed to just sign this and… what? Trust you?"
Alexis stepped forward, her expression softening for the first time since the conversation began. "I'm not asking you to trust me blindly. But if you want to survive—if you want your families, your friends, your world to survive—you'll sign it."
Alexander glanced at Adrian, then at Marcus, Erik, and Ryan. Each of them shared the same look—uncertainty, but also resolve. This was bigger than any of them had anticipated.
"Alright," Alexander said, stepping forward. "We'll sign it. But I want answers. All of them."
Alexis nodded, her expression resolute. "You'll get them. Soon."
As the group moved to sign the contract, a sense of finality settled over the room. The weight of the future now rested on their shoulders, and whatever came next, they would face it head-on.
The countdown to the dimensional collapse had begun.