Chapter 2: The First Test (Part 1)
Chapter 2
We walked through the grand gates of Excelsior High, and the sheer size of the campus hit us like a tidal wave. The school's architecture was like nothing we had ever seen before. Excelsior High was an architectural marvel, seamlessly blending nature with modernity and futuristic technology. The main buildings stood tall, their façades a striking mix of green stone and gleaming gold accents that shimmered in the sunlight. The golden trim reflected the daylight, casting a warm, welcoming glow that contrasted beautifully with the lush greenery surrounding the campus. Everywhere you looked, there were manicured lawns, towering trees, and sparkling water features, all carefully integrated into the design. It was like a living, breathing ecosystem, where nature and technology weren't just coexisting—they were harmonizing.
Large glass panels, solar-powered features, and high-tech sensors gave the school a futuristic edge, but the green walls of ivy and natural gardens softened the harshness of the modern world. It was as though the two worlds had been balanced perfectly, with green and gold colors symbolizing the union of nature and advanced technology.
"Wow," Kevaughn muttered, his voice filled with awe.
I grinned back at him. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
They nodded, speechless for a moment as they took in the grandeur of the place. But soon their attention shifted, and they saw it—the students. A steady stream of students walked past us, all dressed in the school's uniform. They moved with an air of confidence that came only with familiarity, their heads held high as they walked through the gates.
The uniforms were stylish, well-tailored, and fashionable—an elegant mix of gold, green, and brown. The males wore tailored blazers with gold trim, paired with green pants and brown shoes. The females wore knee-length skirts with the same color scheme, and their blouses and blazers fit their frames perfectly. It was a look that effortlessly blended sharpness with comfort, classic with contemporary, and everyone in the uniform looked like they belonged.
"Hey, Oriane, are those students?" Kevaughn asked, eyebrow raised as he noticed the uniformed figures.
"Yeah," I responded, scanning the crowd, the hum of excitement in the air palpable.
My gaze landed on one figure in particular—a girl standing on a balcony above the entrance, her athletic build and confident posture making her stand out. She wore the same uniform as the others, but there was something different about her. A black band with gold lettering was wrapped around her arm, signifying something more. She had short, messy dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes that caught mine instantly. And her grin—oh, that grin—was aimed directly at me, like she knew exactly who I was.
Of course, she's here.
I let out a soft sigh and shifted my attention back to the group.
"Alright, problem children, let's move. We can do sightseeing later," I said, trying to shake the feeling of her eyes on me. The last thing I wanted was for her to distract me today.
The group followed me through the hallways until we reached the Auditorium. The room was massive, with high, vaulted ceilings that seemed to stretch on forever. The walls were a stunning blend of sleek black marble and gold accents, giving the room a sense of both power and elegance. Above, massive holographic screens hovered, displaying the school's emblem and a variety of student announcements. The screens flickered with vibrant colors, making the whole place feel like something out of a futuristic film.
We walked to the second row of student hopefuls, where we took our seats. The other students were already talking amongst themselves, nervously or excitedly discussing what the exams might be like.
"So, Oriane, what do you think the tests will be?" Kevaughn asked, leaning over and whispering to me.
"Will there be fighting?" Sarah asked, her eyes glinting with excitement as she bounced on the balls of her feet, clearly itching for a challenge.
"As long as it's easy, I don't care," Shaheem muttered under his breath, clearly disinterested in anything that might require too much effort.
"That's because you're lazy, Shaheem," Danny quipped, shooting his friend a teasing look.
"And you're not?" Shaheem shot back, raising an eyebrow.
I shrugged and leaned back in my chair, glancing at my friends with a wry grin. "Just wait and see. That's all I can say."
Our conversation was interrupted suddenly, like a wave crashing over us. A presence fell over the room—heavy, imposing, and undeniable. The entire auditorium fell silent in an instant. We all turned toward the stage, where three figures stood, each one radiating an aura of authority.
The woman standing at the center of the stage was imposing, her posture tall and unwavering. She had short brown hair, warm hazel eyes, and brown skin. Her presence demanded respect, and she wore a professional, yet striking, green blazer with gold trim, black slacks, and polished black boots. She stood as if she belonged in a place of power, and you couldn't look at her without feeling the weight of her authority.
Flanking her were two others. On her left was a man in his early thirties. He was tall and muscular, with dark brown skin, short black hair, and piercing scarlet eyes. He wore a sleek black suit, the cut sharp enough to give him an air of elegance and intimidation all at once.
On the other side of the woman was a younger woman in her late twenties. She had shoulder-length black hair, brown eyes, and a quiet but confident demeanor. She wore a simple green dress, paired with a black leather jacket that added an edge to her otherwise classy appearance.
I couldn't help but smile as I recognized them.
The other students slowly quieted down as Mrs. Leon, the woman at the center, spoke.
"About time you quieted down," she said, her voice strong and commanding.
"Now that you've quieted down, let me introduce myself. My name is Leona Leon, and I am the Dean of Discipline here at Excelsior High. The man to my left is Mr. Kerr, and the woman to my right is Ms. Brian. They are two of the many teachers who work here," she said, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.
I looked over at my group. Sarah's face had morphed into a wide grin, her eyes gleaming with something between excitement and admiration.
"They're strong," Sarah muttered, barely loud enough for me to hear.
I rolled my eyes and placed a hand on her head, shaking my head at her enthusiasm. "Down, gremlin. They will kill you," I warned her lightly, a smirk playing on my lips.
Sarah pouted for a moment before relaxing, but I could see her eagerness in the way she bounced on her feet.
"The exam will be split into four parts," Mrs. Leon continued, raising four fingers as she spoke. "The first test is a display of your kinetic abilities. The second test measures your Psyconic energy. The third test is a one-on-one mock battle, and the fourth and final test is a team search and retrieval test." She paused, letting the information sink in. "Are there any questions?"
Hands shot up around the room. Mrs. Leon pointed to one student, a girl with white hair and red eyes.
"Um, Mrs. Leon, I saw students when we entered the school. Will they be watching us?" the girl asked, her voice calm but curious.
"Yes," Mrs. Leon replied simply. "The lower and upperclassmen will be observing you. You are the future students of this school." She pointed to another student, a boy with black hair and silver eyes.
"What kind of abilities will be tested?" he asked, his voice steady.
Mrs. Leon's eyes flickered with a hint of amusement. "All types. Anything and everything you've learned up until now. Don't underestimate any of these tests," she said, her tone warning but not unkind.
After a few more questions, Mrs. Leon nodded once and turned to walk off the stage. "If there are no more questions, the test begins now. The first test will take place at the field. I hope to see you all after it's over." With that, she turned and walked off, Mr. Kerr and Ms. Brian following closely behind.
The room slowly emptied as the student hopefuls filed out of the auditorium, but we stayed back, letting the others leave first. When the last student exited, we stood up and made our way out.
"Four tests. This should be fun," Sarah said, her grin never faltering.
"Let's go kick some ass," Kevaughn said, cracking his knuckles.
"At least they're easy," Shaheem said with a yawn, clearly more interested in relaxing than anything else.
"Indeed," Danny agreed, his usual calm tone unshaken.
"Just don't overdo it, you guys," I said, my grin turning a little more mischievous. "Who am I kidding? Let's go raise some hell."
"You read our minds," Shaheem said, his voice filled with amusement.
We stepped out onto the massive training field, which looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. The field stretched far and wide, surrounded by high-tech structures and open spaces, giving it an almost unreal, futuristic feel. Humanoid robots stood still across the field, featureless and tall, awaiting activation. The open air smelled fresh, and the space felt vast enough to host hundreds of tests at once.
"Wow, this field is massive," Kevaughn remarked, eyes wide in awe as he scanned the area.
"Yep," I replied, glancing up. Something caught my attention. "I'd advise you all to step back unless you want dust in your eyes." I stepped back a few paces, pulling out a pair of black shades and sliding them on.
"Huh?" the group asked, glancing around in confusion.
Before anyone could react, a bolt of black lightning suddenly streaked across the field and struck the ground behind us. The impact sent a huge blast of dust into the air, obscuring everything. The group yelled in surprise and began swatting at the air to clear the dust from their eyes.
"I told you so," I said nonchalantly, unfazed by the chaos.
As the dust began to settle, a figure stood in the middle of the field. He had neck-length black hair, steely grey eyes, and dark skin. His slim, muscular frame was clothed in a simple button-up shirt and black pants. He wore black shades, just like me, and his confident smile only added to his enigmatic presence.
"Good morning, student hopefuls," he said, his voice smooth but commanding. "I'll be your examiner for the first test. You can refer to me as Mr. Campbell." He removed his shades, revealing a sharp gleam in his eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Chapter 2: End