The room was buzzing with restless energy as students flipped through their textbooks, some chatting nervously while others doodled absentmindedly in the margins of their notebooks. Elijah sat near the back of the classroom, trying to focus on the pages of his book. The words blurred together as guys thoughts strayed to his best friend, Oliver.
Oliver was unusually calm today, and Elijah couldn't help but envy his carefree attitude. Most students were on edge—it was the day of the Esper Test, an annual evaluation to determine if a student possessed any latent abilities. For most, the test was a mere formality. For Elijah, it was a gamble.
"You're in an even in a worse mood than last year." Oliver chirped.
"Last year?" He paused.
"Yeah, you're like this whenever it's this day of the year." Oliver glanced at him. "Look, I don't know who in your family tree was an Esper, or what they've done, but I'm sure you'll be fine." He reassured.
Elijah sighed. "Thanks."
"Oliver, please head to the testing room for the Esper test," the teacher called, her voice echoing in the silent classroom.
Oliver stood up, his blonde hair catching the light as he smiled at Elijah. "I'll go home after this," he said, his tone lighthearted and cheerful.
Elijah returned the smile. He watched as Oliver left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
Hey, Oliver. I'm far from being a good person. There's no sane, morally good person who'd wish that "I'm an Esper, so I wish you'd be one too."
Ten minutes had already passed since Oliver went to the testing room. Elijah flipped another page in his book, but he wasn't reading anymore. His thoughts kept drifting back to Oliver.
'He should be done by now,' he thought.
But Oliver wasn't on his way home.
In a small, nondescript office just down the hall, a chilling scene unfolded. The room, furnished with a plain desk and two chairs, looked more like an administrative office than a testing center. But the sight within was far from ordinary.
Oliver lay sprawled on the cold tiled floor, his blonde hair matted with blood. His eyes were wide open, frozen in a final moment of terror. Standing over him was a man in an ancient-style military uniform. The deep maroon fabric was intricately designed, with gold accents that shimmered faintly in the harsh fluorescent light.
The man wiped his bloodied hands with a pristine white handkerchief, a smile playing on his lips. His dark purple hair framed a face that was both elegant and unnerving, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight.
"Congratulations," he said, his voice smooth and mocking. "You're the first Esper I've met today. But it seems we had a bit of a misunderstanding."
Behind him stood a woman in a similar uniform, her expression cold and detached.
"Mella, clean this mess up," the man commanded, his tone casual.
"Yes, sir," Mella replied without hesitation.
The man crouched, his eyes lingering on Iris's lifeless body. "A pity," he said softly, his voice almost mournful. But his smirk betrayed his true feelings.
Elijah barely had time to dwell on Oliver's prolonged absence before the teacher's voice rang out again.
"Elijah, it's your turn. Please head to the testing room for the Esper test."
His heart skipped a beat. He could feel the weight of every gaze in the room as he stood up, smoothing his uniform nervously. He grabbed his backpack but hesitated, debating whether he should just run.
He didn't.
Instead, he followed the teacher out of the room, his steps measured but hesitant. The hallway felt longer than usual, the sound of his shoes echoing off the walls. When they reached the door to the testing room, Elijah noticed a girl standing outside.
The girl had a short cropped hair, and an unreadable expression. Her maroon uniform was pristine, adorned with intricate gold patterns that matched the man's inside. Elijah's eyes were drawn to the girl's collar, where a single bar was marked with a dot above it.
The girl opened the door, revealing the office inside.
The metallic scent of blood hit Elijah immediately, sharp and unmistakable. His stomach churned as he tried to steady his breathing.
'It smells like… no…' he thought, forcing himself not to complete the sentence.
The man sitting behind the desk looked up as he entered. His maroon uniform was immaculate, save for a faint stain near his cuff—a stain that could easily be missed by someone not paying attention. His collar bore a bar with three dots above it.
"Welcome," he said, his voice smooth and controlled. He gestured to the chair in front of him. "Have a seat."
Elijah hesitated before sitting down. His heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his face neutral.
"Before we begin, I'll ask you a few basic questions," the man said. His tone was almost conversational, but his piercing gaze made Elijah feel like she was being dissected. "How many Espers are there in your family?"
Elijah's eyes flicked to his collar again. The design intrigued him, though his fascination was a weak distraction from her anxiety. "Eight," he murmured absently.
The man raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Eight? That's quite a lot."
Elijah snapped back to attention. "Ah, no," he said quickly, flustered. "I was looking at your collar."
The man chuckled softly. "You're familiar with the Maya numbering system, I see. Most people only recognize Roman numerals."
Elijah nodded, trying to steady his breathing. "As far as I know, there aren't any Espers in my family line," he lied. It wasn't the first time he'd told this story, and he made sure his voice didn't waver.
The man studied her for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Stretch out your hand, please. I need direct contact to determine if you're an esper."
His pulse quickened as he slowly extended his hand. The man's grip was firm but cold, his fingers curling around his. For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Then it did.
Elijah's eyes widened as he felt a surge of energy course through him. His irises shifted, turning a vibrant shade of purple—a telltale sign of his abilities manifesting.
The man's smile widened. "Congratulations," he said smoothly. "You're an Esper. The first one I've identified today."
Elijah's heart sank. He pulled his hand back, mumbling to himself, "No, no, no…"
The man leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp, then man then put a black thing on his wrist. "This is a tool for all Espers to not use their power."
"You can exit through the back door," he said, his tone low and measured. "It's better if your classmates don't see you like this."
He didn't respond. His mind was racing, panic clawing at his chest.
Without another word, Elijah stood and headed for the back exit. He didn't even think about his backpack, still sitting under his desk in the classroom. He pushed open the door and stepped into the cool evening air, his thoughts a chaotic whirlwind.
'What now?' he thought, his body trembling. 'What do I do now?'
As he walked aimlessly, his mind replayed the scene in the testing room.