Eiden Kross adjusted the oversized glasses perched on his nose, frowning slightly at his reflection in a nearby window.
"These things make me look like a walking math problem," he muttered, fiddling with the frames. "But hey, the dorkier I look, the less anyone notices me, right?" He let out a dry laugh, earning a few curious glances from passing students.
Blending in was the goal. No attention, no trouble. Simple.
Before diving headfirst into his day, Eiden decided to map out his classes ahead of time. The last thing he wanted was to wander aimlessly and accidentally walk into a Gifted-only area—or worse, bump into someone who'd make his life miserable.
Walking along the campus pathways, he carefully marked reasonable routes on his phone. Avoiding busy intersections, narrow halls, or places where Gifted students were more likely to show off was key.
"Just a nice, peaceful day," he told himself. "No drama. No trouble. And who knows—maybe I'll even meet a girl."
He smirked at the thought. "Yeah, right. Like anyone here would notice me, let alone give me their number. Unless they were dialing me for a math tutor or something."
As he chuckled, a memory flickered in his mind. A girl—her silhouette was hazy, but her bright blue hair stood out like a beacon. Her voice echoed faintly, soft but cutting.
"Zero."
The word hit like a gut punch. Eiden's smirk faded, replaced by a faint grimace. The nickname still stung, even years later.
He shook his head, forcing the memory away. "Forget it, Kross. Focus on the now. New place, new start."
Adjusting his glasses with exaggerated determination, he muttered, "Time to face the dangers of college life. Yay."
…..
Eiden navigated the narrow halls of the university with caution, sticking close to the walls to avoid any potential Gifted traffic. He'd successfully dodged a group of students testing their levitation powers and even sidestepped a water manipulator showing off their skills by forming floating orbs.
But as he turned a corner, disaster struck.
A male student flew past him, barely missing Eiden's shoulder before slamming into the wall with a sickening thud. The impact left a dent in the metal, and the guy staggered to his feet, blood trickling from his nose.
Eiden froze, his instincts screaming at him to run.
"Damn it!" the student growled, wiping the blood from his face. His fiery orange hair was disheveled, and his sharp green eyes burned with anger. He turned toward the source of the blow. "What's your problem, Zane?"
A voice shot back from further down the hall. "My problem? You're the one who keeps getting in my way, Nolan!"
The speaker strode forward, cracking his knuckles. His hair was jet-black, styled in a messy undercut, and his piercing amber eyes gleamed with irritation.
Nolan, the orange-haired guy, sneered. "Oh, sure, blame me. Maybe if you weren't such a brute, you'd have some actual precision."
"You want to go again?" Zane smirked, his fists glowing with an eerie green energy.
"Bring it!" Nolan shot back, flames flickering in his palms.
The hallway shook as the two launched into another round. Zane hurled a glowing punch that sent shockwaves rippling through the air, while Nolan retaliated with a fiery burst that scorched the walls.
Eiden ducked back behind the corner, cursing his luck. "Why do I always end up near idiots?"
He peeked around the edge, curiosity getting the better of him. Watching the fight, he pieced together the source of their rivalry.
Nolan's Gift: Pyrokinetic Manipulation—raw, flashy, and destructive.
Zane's Gift: Kinetic Impact—a physical energy boost that made his punches hit like mini explosions.
But it wasn't the clash of abilities that caught Eiden's attention. It was the girl standing behind them, calmly watching the chaos unfold.
She had long, silky red hair that cascaded over her shoulders, slightly messy but striking. Her bright blue eyes, almost hypnotic, flicked between the two combatants with an unreadable expression.
Eiden frowned, putting two and two together.
"Oh, for crying out loud," he muttered. "They're fighting over her."
The insults flying between Nolan and Zane confirmed his suspicion. Each taunt and over-the-top attack screamed one thing: Look how impressive I am, notice me!
Eiden groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of course. Classic testosterone-fueled power display. Great use of education, guys."
He didn't have time for this. His first class was just ahead, and the only way to get there was through the middle of this war zone.
"Okay, Eiden," he whispered to himself. "Time to channel your inner action hero. Or… at least your inner terrified civilian."
He waited for the perfect moment, watching the rhythm of their attacks. As soon as a brief gap opened, Eiden sprinted forward.
"Don't hit me, don't hit me, don't hit me—"
He narrowly avoided a fireball that scorched the floor beside him. Ducking and rolling past a shockwave, he managed to dart through the chaos unscathed, his bag bouncing wildly on his shoulder.
Reaching the other end of the hall, he straightened up, panting slightly. His eyes met the girl's briefly. She blinked, her gaze shifting to follow him as he hurried past.
Eiden gave her a dismissive look, muttering under his breath, "Not my circus, not my clowns."
He bolted down the next corridor, determined to make it to class on time.
.
.
.
Behind him, the red-haired girl continued to watch, her focus now solely on Eiden's retreating figure.
For a moment, her lips curled into a faint smile.