Stargazers: World stage

"Wait, wait... you mean?" Marco stumbled over his words, his mind racing back to the enigmatic family that haunted whispers and rumors.

The Mysterious Family.

Not much was known about them. Perhaps the Supremes had more information, but to the public, their legacy boiled down to a few key details; striking dark purple hair, golden eyes, and the fact that they had once played a pivotal role in helping the Alliance adapt to the new world of abilities and its evolving technology. Then, without warning, they vanished.

"But your last name?" Marco asked, frowning in confusion.

"Does 'Clay' sound original?" Vahn replied with a wry smile. Though it sounded like he was dismissing his surname, it was more of a casual musing on the possibility that lingered in his mind.

"Hey, don't throw your name away." Marco shot back.

"Right. But hey, we don't have much time," Vahn reminded him.

"Oh, right. You can walk now, so I'll carry your stuff."

"Alright."

Marco grabbed two medium-sized bags, and they left the apartment, descending the narrow staircase. Their conversation continued as they moved.

"Okay, but what about the fact that you don't have an ability?" Marco asked, glancing at Vahn with genuine curiosity.

"Hmm... Honestly, don't you find it strange that I haven't awakened one yet?" Vahn replied, his tone reflective.

Marco couldn't argue with that. The lengths Vahn had gone to in pursuit of an ability were numerous and reckless. But Marco also understood Vahn wasn't just chasing power; he was running from loneliness. Though he'd never admit it, that drive was what kept Vahn from falling into despair. Imagine if Vahn had simply sulked around, wallowing in self-pity. No, he couldn't even imagine, that wasn't who he was.

Before they knew it, they had reached the ground floor. Parked across the street was a long, 72-seater bus, its engine idling. 

"Hey, Marco," Vahn began, a hint of concern in his voice as they both stared at the bus, "I think you should try to increase your rank during the two years I'll be gone."

"Wow, Vahn cares. The world must be ending," Marco teased, though he nodded thoughtfully. Reports of winged demons appearing sporadically across the region weren't something to ignore.

"And speak to your other organizers. You have enough money to start a faction. You get what I mean?"

"Hey, I don't remember you being older than me," Marco retorted. Though there was only a three-year difference, he was still older, right? 

"Yeah, see you later."

With that, Vahn forced himself to carry his bags the rest of the way to the bus. 'It still hurts,' he thought, wincing slightly. But it was far better than being a cripple.

...

After loading his belongings, Vahn boarded the vehicle.

Surprisingly, or perhaps not, it was silent. The faces of the students around him reflected a shared, unspoken sentiment; none of them wanted to be here. But choice wasn't a luxury any of them had.

As he made his way down the aisle, he felt lingering stares following him. He knew why, but he ignored them, settling into an empty seat. With a glance around, he leaned back, closing his eyes. There was no point in staying awake.

In exchange for sending their youth to the Alliance, a few conditions had been agreed upon. The first was Secrecy. The location of the camp had to remain hidden. With spies lurking in every organization, the risk of terrorist attacks was too great. Even the students themselves weren't privy to the camp's true location.

Sleeping gas was ineffective against ability users, and stronger alternatives bordered on poison. So, the Alliance used illusions instead. They showed the students what they wanted them to see. With most of them being as weak as E-ranks, they wouldn't even realize they were trapped in an illusion.

Due to that, it led to bizarre conversations like,

"Hey, so you live in a desert?"

"No?"

"We saw you coming from a desert house. No need to lie."

The illusion was always active.

***

In a dimly lit office, the glow of messages flickered across a screen on the table. A man glanced briefly at the top of the report.

'No ability? Useless.' He lost interest immediately.

And he wasn't the only one. Across different locations, several others received the same message. Most dismissed it as soon as they saw those two words, No ability.

However, a few of them thought differently. 

***

Vahn's eyes snapped open, assaulted by an overwhelming wave of heat. He raised his hand to shield his face from the blinding sun, squinting at his surroundings.

Coincidentally, or perhaps not, the lieutenant was already speaking.

"Once you disembark, follow the instructions of the designated officers. Those assigned for punishments will receive their orders shortly. Welcome to the World Defense Alliance."

With a crooked smile, the lieutenant stepped off the bus.

"STEP DOWN FROM YOUR BUSES IN AN ORDERLY MANNER!" another voice barked.

Students obeyed, filing out of the buses with reluctant precision.

In the distance, Vahn saw a raised platform where five men stood, clad in military uniforms. No one needed to be told what to do next. They instinctively began moving toward the platform.

The crowd grew quickly, swelling to over 3,000 students, with more buses still arriving. The noise escalated as the numbers doubled, a chaotic symphony of voices and footsteps.

Vahn stood alone, not out of choice but a habit. His high school years had been marked by isolation and bullying, and those scars lingered. Besides, no one related to the bullied and he'd only endured it because of a promise he made to Marco years ago.

But here, things would be different. He wouldn't allow himself to be bullied, and here, he would try to make some friends.

'Should I?' Testing himself, he reached out and tapped the shoulder of the person in front of him. His heart raced with immediate regret as the girl turned to face him.

She was pretty in an understated way: pale skin, flowing black hair, and warm brown eyes. She wore a simple, flowing dress.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"Vahn."

"Carla."

"Nice name."

"Thanks!"

Then Vahn ran out of what to say and stood, staring at her for a full minute that felt like years.

'Fuck, this is a disaster, Vahn thought, internally screaming. He prayed for something, anything, to interrupt the painfully awkward exchange.

As if summoned by his desperation:

"ATTENTION!"

Vahn's head immediately snapped toward the voice, grateful for the distraction. He didn't catch Carla's expression as she turned as well.

"WELCOME TO THE WORLD DEFENSE ALLIANCE. THIS IS CAMP 5, WHERE YOU WILL SPEND THE NEXT TWO YEARS. NOW, YOU WILL BE CALLED IN BATCHES FOR NECESSARY PROCEDURES. CAPTAINS ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS CLASSES WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE REST."

The five officers stepped down, replaced by others who began calling out names.

The noise surged again.

This time, Vahn knew better than to try striking up another conversation.