Stargazers: World stage

"Settle down, everyone." A lanky professor entered the classroom, beckoning to the students.

"Hey, professor, I thought classes were already over," a student sitting in the middle of the class called out with an arrogant, defiant look, it was unknown whether it was because he just hated school or because the professor was merely an E-rank.

"Yeah, teach. Isn't it done?" another student chimed in.

"Yes, do you lie now?"

More students joined in, throwing a collective tantrum.

Releasing a deep sigh, the professor pushed up his glasses and gave them a stern look. The room quieted under his gaze, and once he had their attention, he began,

"I know classes are over, but this is important. For emphasis' sake, I'll give you a brief history of how the next two years of your life will go."

"But we've heard that story a lot of times already," a girl raised her hand to protest, but the professor ignored her and continued.

"It's been 47 years since it all began. Suddenly, people around the world began awakening their abilities. For many, it was a way to escape a boring world however for those who didn't awaken abilities, it was torture."

As if on cue, everyone turned their heads toward the lone student at the back of the class, and the boy in question, Vahn, gave them a deadpan look that silently asked, "So?"

"Oi, oi, isn't he talking about you?" The same arrogant student mocked, earning laughter from his peers.

Vahn merely glanced at him and then turned his attention back to the professor, and before the situation could escalate.

"STOP," the professor ordered, silencing the room.

"Student Valen, you shouldn't pick on others." After a light warning to Valen, the professor briefly glanced at Vahn before continuing.

'Just my life,' Vahn sighed inwardly, shaking his head. This was his daily reality, mocked for being among those who hadn't awakened an ability. But he didn't let it get to him. This wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last.

Pushing the thoughts aside, he listened to the professor.

"Before any further developments could take place, they invaded us," the professor frowned deeply. It was as if he didn't want to mention their name due to an in-built hatred, however, he still said it,

"The demons."

"They raided towns, cities, and countries, laying waste to citizens in droves. The world teetered on the brink of extinction. The remaining nations banded together to fight this common enemy, but our technology was useless. Bullets couldn't pierce their tough skin, and our tanks were ineffective. We needed a solution, and that solution came from those who had awakened abilities. They were rallied to fight, forming what is now known as the World Defense Alliance."

Maybe it was the professor's storytelling, but everyone was now engrossed. They'd all heard this history before from their parents, only in bits and pieces, it was never this detailed. And that was intentional.

"But there was a new problem. We had just awakened our abilities; we still needed time to master them and become strong enough to fight, our solution was too insufficient."

"Then, like saviors, they came." The professor showed a smile he hadn't displayed since entering the class as he spoke,

Again, heads turned toward Vahn.

"The Mysterious Family."

"There's no way, right?"

"Yeah, he probably just dyed his hair that color."

"Haha, he must've dyed it."

"STOP." The professor halted the class again.

"So, where was I? Yes. With their distinct dark purple hair and golden eyes, they offered their help. They taught us about abilities and how to enhance our technology, then disappeared. Some believe we chased them away; others say they abandoned us. But regardless, they helped us immensely. Because of them, we were finally able to stand our ground against the demons.

Though the battles were still tough, we gathered data on the demons, their ranks, abilities, and habits making it easier to classify and combat them. After ten years of brutal war, the blades of the Nine Supreme finally pierced the demon leader.

But after defeating the common enemy, a new problem arose. The war had ended, and humans still had their abilities. Naturally, ambitions bloomed within the alliance. Civil wars erupted, and many factions splintered off. The alliance was more than enough to quell the rebellions, but the main focus of the alliance was the fear the demons would return, so a consensus was made; at a certain age, every citizen would spend two years in the alliance, training to master your abilities and to prevent another chaos from within..."

Though he didn't say it out, they weren't only teaching them how to control their abilities, they were also teaching them to resist the overwhelming allure of ambition.

A student raised his hand, breaking the professor's explanation. "Professor," he called out.

"Yes?" The professor replied, hoping for a reasonable question, however,

"How likely is it for someone to survive there without any abilities?"

The professor hesitated. "I... I don't know," he admitted, which prompted another round of laughter from the class.

Yet Vahn wasn't moved by their words. He sat there, lost in thought, reflecting on the professor's words.

'So, that's how it was…' He had heard the questions before, asked in various forms, always about his connection to the mysterious family. But Vahn didn't even know who they were. Adults rarely spoke of it, bound by some kind of oath. Only now did he hear fragments of the story was he able to make the connection to how they were related.

"And with that," the professor continued, "I wish you the best of luck in the next two years of your life." His smile seemed a little more relieved as he finished his lecture and left the room.

"Woo… school's over!" The realization hit the students like a wave, and a cheer rang out from one of them.

"Haha… finally, I can join my brother's faction," another said, excitement in their voice.

"What? Hey, tell your brother to take me too!" came a playful retort from the back.

As the others celebrated their freedom, talking about joining factions or making plans for the future, Vahn remained unmoved.

Instead, he found himself surrounded by a different kind of attention.

"Hey, how about we end this school year with a little beating?" Valor stood at the front of Vahn's desk, cracking his knuckles with an arrogant smile.

"Hehe, I think we should," one of Valor's lackeys chimed in.

"That's right!" Another voice added from the back.

The group behind Valor eagerly backed him up, but Vahn didn't even acknowledge them. He simply grabbed his bag and stood to leave.

"Where do you think you're going?" Valor stretched out his arm to block Vahn's exit.

Without a word, Vahn swiftly turned and, with a well-placed backkick, struck Valor square in the chest.

'Tsk...' Vahn clicked his tongue, a little annoyed. He'd delivered a powerful kick, but Valor didn't seem to be phased.

"Oi, oi, is that all you've got?" Valor brushed off his clothes and lunged at Vahn.

"This is how you do it." From his backhand, a sickly green light formed into a ball, which he hurled at Vahn.

Vahn sidestepped with ease, the ball missing him entirely. But a follow-up punch came from his left. Vahn bent his head back, narrowly avoiding it, and then tackled Valor to the ground with practiced precision.

"You fuck—" Valor's curse was cut off as Vahn delivered a crushing blow to his mouth.

WHAAM!

The first punch landed, and Vahn didn't stop there. His fists moved with relentless force.

WHAAM! WHAAM! WHAAM!

The students who had once ignored the scuffle were now gathering around, drawn by the noise and the violence.

"W-What the hell?" one student stammered.

"B-Blood," another whispered, eyes wide in shock.

"I-Isn't that..." someone else started, but their words trailed off as they saw the severity of the situation.

As Valor's face became a bloody mess from the continued punches, cries rang out from the others.

"S-Stop!" one shouted.

"Are you trying to kill him?" another cried in panic.

"Fucking maniac…" someone muttered, horrified at Vahn's unrelenting assault.

But Vahn didn't stop. WHAAM! Another punch landed.

Valor lay motionless, his body battered and bruised. But Vahn knew better than to assume he was finished. Ability users were more durable than they looked.

"You think I'm weak, huh?" Vahn spoke flatly, not even looking at Valor's bloodied face.

"Apologize."

WHAAM!

"Apologize."

With each word, he landed another punch.

"Apolo—"

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" A sharp voice interrupted the chaos.

The students quickly scattered, and Vahn glanced toward the entrance. A professor stood there, flanked by a classmate.

'She reported me?' Vahn shot the girl a glare before his eyes moved to the professor.

"Vahn? What's the meaning of this?" The professor asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and anger as he took in the sight of Valor on the floor.

"Self-defense, sir?" Vahn responded coolly, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Self-defense?" The professor's face twisted with frustration. "You call this self-defense?"

"It doesn't make sense for a non-ability user to pick on an ability user, don't you know that professor?" Vahn tilted his head, his voice calm and logical.

The professor paused, at a loss for words. Vahn's statement made sense, but it wasn't something the professor could condone.

"This is a civilized institution," the professor said sternly. "You will report yourself for punishment."

"Yes, professor. But I hope he comes too." With that, Vahn turned and left the classroom without another word.

The students were left in stunned silence. Vahn, the quiet, constantly bullied student, had just turned the tables in a shocking display of power.

Had he secretly always been an ability user? The question lingered in the air, unanswered.