Robert for the first time in his life panicked.

Robert Bullfry was a noble-born. All his life he had everything fed to him in a silver platter. Everything always went his way, so he just assumed the world was a small pond and he was the biggest fish.

Being the only son of a billionaire only intensified his self-confidence even further.

His views, however, changed the moment he came to Demigrace academy. Apparently, he was just another fish in the infinite ocean, definitely not the biggest. His ego took a big hit and he just stayed low. But he didn't panic.

He wasn't stupid and he knew creating a scene among the peasants was a one way to ticket out of here. He couldn't afford that.

Patience was a great quality in his character. He never let anything bother him, at least till now. But even when he learned the world didn't revolve around him or his family, he still remained sane. The reason? It had more to do with his powers. He could speed up his brain to process a lot of information in a short span of time. And because he could take things slow, he'd developed almost superhuman levels of patience. And this patience allowed him to stay sane.

He didn't like kids around him and he maintained distance, at least from the peasants.

But he hated some of the more notorious ones in the academy. He, however, was an excellent actor. And when paired with his patience, nobody could tell, he was actually faking it or not.

He hated one student above all: Helio Jintel.

'What's with the weird name?' He thought. He didn't know about the kid's family but he was sure, this kid was a peasant.

He hated the kid, but when he talked to him, more and more, he learned this Helio kid was kind of like him and yet, not him. This Helio kid knew his own weaknesses but he never let them show, and more importantly, he wasn't all that concerned about his position in society. At least that's what Robert thought.

So hatred turned to curiosity and gradually to respect as he saw more and more of Helio's exploits.

When he found Helio ill on the road, he couldn't leave him alone because of that respect.

And when Helio wanted to be his friend, he was glad: not overjoyed, but glad. He wasn't the biggest fish but at least he now had his first real friend.

Of course, he had other friends but no one ever made friends with him just to be friends. Everyone was near him for the sake of getting preferential treatment. After all, having the backing of a noble was the best thing anybody could hope for.

Robert knew that, but he didn't have a choice but to pretend to be friends with the likes of those.

And so when the time came, Robert felt really glad to have his first real friend. He actually didn't know what friends even did, so he just maintained his distance, thinking Helio might find him annoying if he tried too hard.

He had a basketball practice today at the gym but there was a barrier.

"Hey, what is going on here?"

Robert heard Helio's voice and for a second he was spooked. But his enhanced mind came into play and let him control his thoughts.

But when Helio went into the gym alone, Robert felt powerless. He couldn't help his friend and he couldn't do anything about the situation.

His powers weren't a good fit for the job and he knew that. So, his ultimate strength came into play.

Patience.

But as an hour passed without any signs of Helio, his heart started to race for the first time: his enhanced thought process only made things worse. This was his first friend and he was in trouble. Robert didn't like that, and for the first time his thoughts were clouded: he panicked.

***

Teachers arrived at the barrier near the gym along with the prefects. Whispers floated about.

"What is this?" One of the prefects wondered aloud, as he touched the barrier. "This is certainly stronger than anything I've ever seen."

"Yes, it would seem that way." The voice came from above.

The headmaster and his wife had come. And apparently, Sylvia was carrying the headmaster like a potato bag.

It was rare for the headmaster or his wife to wander within the academy. But the two of them at the same time? That was more than just rare.

They both descended and the headmaster picked himself up, reluctantly. He almost pouted like a little girl, sighed, and composed himself.

"Let's see…." The headmaster made a gesture of touching the barrier but punched it instead.

A shockwave went through the whole island.

The students near the impact felt a shock they wished they hadn't and half of them lost conscience.

"Would it kill you to warn the kids first?" Sylvia massaged her temples with a sigh.

She'd been with this man for over forty years. She knew him from even before, during her high school days. Back then she found a certain charm in this man, now not so much. She still loved him, but something didn't just feel right anymore. Growing up changed their ideals.

"We don't have time." The headmaster's voice was stale and deep.

Sylvia didn't say a word, she knew her husband was serious for once.

Another punch, and then another. Each followed by a shockwave.

And after the shocks that literally left wet patches on the crotches of the nearby students, the barrier cracked open.

But it wasn't over. "There's another one. A space barrier." The headmaster looked behind. "Which one of you can warp? Where's the teleporter girl?"

"She might be on the inside," Robert said. He was nervous and he really wanted to do something.

"I can." A girl raised her hand. "I can get you in." She came forward with her nonchalant and dignified smile.

The headmaster grimaced but he didn't have a choice. "Alright, Miss Hy- Ahem… Rin, please let us hurry."

"As you wish…. Headmaster." The girl came forward and grabbed the arm of the headmaster. A second later, they warped.

Robert and the rest of the students just stared at the empty, invisible barrier in front of them.

Sylvia sighed as she gazed upon the stars. 'If only…'

***

"Oh, long time no see, Roger!" A deep voice, the voice of the leader of the Killboyz.

"Yes, it really has been a long time, Devrock." The headmaster glared at the man, the boy passed out on the floor, and the three unconscious ladies. He also glanced towards the hostages in the corner. "Quite the party you had here."

"Rest assured, none of them are harmed. I can't say much about the brat though."

The headmaster grimaced. "This is how you treat the grandson and the daughter of your once best friend?"

"Grandson?" The man looked at the kid on the floor and then behind him at the woman. He burst out laughing. "No wonder he was so weak. I thought he was at least thirty." He kept on laughing. "And you talk as though we're not friends anymore."

"You always were an airhead but I never knew you were that much of an idiot. But since you've come here and disturbed my home, don't assume you'll get out unharmed." Black clouds surged near Roger as he glared.

"Give me a break. I was just here to have some fun. A Battlesuin brat showed up on my door begging me to kill this brat. Of course, since I took the payment, I had to work a little, right? Well, I tried, so guess I'll leave now." The man- Devrock glared at the little girl near the headmaster. "I assume you have time to waste on scum like that?"

"Mind your tongue worm." Hyorin wasn't offended and her smile was just as nonchalant.

"As you wish, scum." Devrock bowed like he was bowing to a king, and yet sarcasm was written all over his body.

Hyorin clicked her tongue but she didn't say another word. There was a reason she was at this academy and she couldn't compromise on that.

"So, what was the point of this little show?" Roger crossed his arms.

"Life's been too boring since Julio disappeared. You refuse to play along, so I thought why not test Julio's brat. He has potential but, not that fun you know. The brat actually uses his head rather than instincts. He's not fun." Devrock sighed.

Roger grinned. "Yeah, he's smart, but also a little too naïve." He sighed. "Alright, get your brats out of here, and scram. I'll cover it up." He glanced at the girl right next to him. "But!"

"Fine by me." Devrock turned around. "Whose butt? My royal roundjobs?" He massaged his bottom.

"Cut the crap and be sure to cover all the stuff you destroyed here. I expect the payment on my desk by tomorrow."

Devrock grimaced for the first time. "Fine." He scratched his head. "I'll pay the brat's bills too."

But there was another problem, what about the hostages in the corner? Roger glanced at the hostages and he felt something odd. The hostages in particular were staring at the ceiling, not even blinking.

"They were hidden behind a spatial barrier and one of my boys gave them a good adventure within their own minds, so they didn't hear anything." Devrock winked and picked up his men who was on the floor. "But I never thought that ugly bastard would have such a beautiful daughter." He stopped for a second and admired Helio's mom.

"I know right." Roger laughed hard.

"That brat. Was he also?"

Roger didn't say anything. He just stood there.

"I see." Devrock flashed a salute and they all disappeared into space.

The

'If only you hadn't fallen down that path.' Roger sighed and looked at Hyorin. "I trust you'll take responsibility?"

"I don't' know what you're talking about. But I will keep this conversation confidential." She disappeared.

"Well, that's one thing, I suppose," Roger murmured.

One by one the students and teachers alike rushed in.

"What happened in here?" Robert looked around. There was debris everywhere.

Just what kind of fight created such large craters on the ground and such damage?

And when he saw Helio on the floor, he rushed to his friend's side. "Oh thank god, he's alive."