Mr. Abrams: “Wednesday is Primarily a study day. We start off with World Languages once again for three subjects, break for lunch, then take the opportunity to explore Global History 101. After is Gym class to finish the day off and let you kids blow off steam.

Thursday is a combat only class. You start off with Survival Basics, continue on with Survival Basics for a second period, then Self Defense 101, also continue that one for another period, and finally personal training for everybody to finish things off. This one is really just to explore possible options for you all. Ophelia, Aria, Elijah, Li Shun, Brennan, Ian and Alyandrea… they’re especially going to be busy here.

(After all, it’s the main reason they came to us. To control their abilities and grow stronger.)

But not everybody needs to participate in this class. For those that choose not to, like Leos, Oliviera and Wayne, you’ll have to treat it as gym with Aeron, Hermer Walsh or … somebody else.

(Dammit. I don’t remember everyone’s names. They’re so forgettable!) You’ll… get to know them later.

And then there’s tomorrow… Friday. Friday starts off as an introduction to on site clean-up. You will learn what to expect, when encountering a scene that is stained with villainy aftermath. It’s… quite sad. This is a very large subject that encompasses every other hands-on class subject, so the introductory course will mainly be to let you both know of the principals regarding the course which will actually become a mandatory one for everybody during your 3rd year here. It takes two subjects. The rest of the day will be a free period, with the focus being placed on your academic schoolwork. Please come to me and request some help if you ever need it – ignoring me based on some ...emotional worry or fear isn’t letting me do my job. Finishing your school homework is also okay, the same goes for extra credit assignments or requesting for it. During this time, you just need to focus on relaxing and easing through your understanding of the various changes revolving around your life, right now. The schedule is rather full and I understand if you all are bound to have tough times readjusting. Being freshman that aren’t used to our school’s curriculum, and non – combatants that haven’t adapted to serious combat training before, this initial year will cut you all some slack.

Saturday, there will be no schoolwork, but you MUST undergo personal training in the fields we select for you, based on our personal observations and your own preferences. Think of it as an unpaid internship.

…

Any questions?”

Noel: “…”

{I want to ask, ‘are we done here, yet?’ but I feel like that sort of thing will upset him instead…}

Rise: “Wait a minute- we don’t even get SATURDAYS off?! Dammit, dammit!! What kind of spartan training are you forcing on these innocent and pig-like non – combatant children?? They’re incredibly fragile!”

Noel: “Although I’m used to having no days off...I was kind of hoping for some change of pace. I heard schools were supposed to have a more relaxing time compared to-”

Mr. Abrams: “You chose the wrong school. If you want to relax then do so on Fridays during free period. But it better not affect your level of comprehension regarding the school subjects your taking, nor your overall grades.”

Rise: “Oh, man… finally the teach stops droning on…! For a second there, I thought he was never gonna stop! It’s like they’re trying to kill us first! Maybe these teachers are also apart of the realist faction? Fuck… There goes my free time!”

Mr. Abrams: “…Sundays will be a day specifically tailored to the basics of survival. We initially weren’t going to give you anything on this day, however…

...Then you all died. There are too many uncertainties in this world right now, and rather than constantly fearing that the worst will pass at some point in time from now until graduation, we’d rather gift you as many survival skills and condense as much knowledge to aid your future survivals as possible. At least those of us here in the non – combatant’s division have collectively agreed to this change.”

…

Noel: “…You HAD to open your big mouth. Great, now you’ve ANGERED him and made him give us an extra day of school work! How grand – or is this what your words meant, when you spoke that line earlier? When you said: ‘Fuck, there goes my free time!’

*Slow Claps*

Hehehe, wonderful! Your smelly fortune telling hits the spot again! Just great!“

Rise: “…Bas- you bastard! I wasn’t trying to--”

Noel: “Did you have to smell the teacher in order to figure it out? Was it done earlier on during his explanation? Amazing, Rise! I completely misjudged your ability’s usefulness! Forget becoming a non - combatant, you should directly go look for the police! You might be able to help smell their unsolved cases and give them a proper-”

Rise: “Grrr, shut the fuck UP!! I didn’t intend for that to make him pissed off, okay! I was only trying to vent! It’s not like I can control his thinkin-”

Noel: “Hahahaha! But what’s the difference between controlling his thoughts and what you just did? Your… your stupid words made him take away my Sunday! Repent and apologize to him you big idiot!”

Rise: “Grrr, I ain’t repenting for shit when I didn’t DO shit! Got it?!”

Noel: “You stupid-”

Mr. Abrams: “ENOUGH! Noel, his words didn’t affect my decision… much. At most, I’ve included an extra hour or two for your special ‘Survival Sunday’ in three days. Have your bodies well rested and tomorrow I will hand out the updated schedules during Free period. This first week isn’t like the schedules, we only introduce every single day and its classes in order. So in fact, you both now know more than your classmates do. Keep it secret for the time being, alright? In the meantime, I suggest you begin remembering the route to school and back. We’ve set up a magic portal at the exit of the Forest just southwest of here. it will lead all non – combatants to and from the school building assigned for them, and then back here, where they are required to await a teacher’s guidance back to the dormitories. That means STAY PUT and don’t DO anything! Just in case, Most of the time I will see if Mr. Reeds can guide you guys back home. He and a soon to arrive retired Superhero will be live-in Dormitory Parents for the Non – Combatant Dorm boys and girls starting next Semester, but for now, you’ll need to be patient and await a guide whenever Mr. Reeds cannot assist due to his personal commitments. During emergencies your class representatives may have to respond in this role, but certainly not anytime soon. Either Mr. Pierce, Mrs. Haldeen or I will be there Along with Ms. Daisy for this entire beginning semester. Got it?

(You troublesome duo. This rule is ESPECIALLY created for you!)”

Both boys nodded in unison, seemingly bored and wanting to just hurry up and leave. It would appear that their non – combatant duties would be officially explained to them on Saturday when they choose a role to pursue out of the handout filled with suitable choices. Just how many were there to choose from anyways? Non - combatant Nurses seemed to be just medical soldier type of civilians...except for this healing introductory thing? Classes on Monday will resume as normally planned, so they can just inquire about it then. After all, this Monday that passed already, was Orientation day. There wasn’t any special introduction class that day for the Non – Combatant students.

The night quickly passed like that and soon, Midnight arrived. Everybody SHOULD be sleeping at this time, preparing for Friday morning’s introduction.

But before school could properly start… right before Noel gleamed any semblance of a school life – he was summoned into a gray world by his big brother.

Aeron was paying him a visit.

Noel: “...*Slowly opens eyelids*

Didn’t you tell me that you wouldn’t bother me for 50 years? That was the condition for me telling you about Boman, remember?”

Aeron: “Oh, little Ty~ I already spent those fifty years. Didn’t you notice? The contract between us has been relieved already~”

Noel: “!!! YOU dirty, rotten--! You tricked me!”

Aeron: “Relax, little Ty. I didn’t come here to mess with you. Actually I came on family business – to confirm something with you… by father’s orders.”

Noel heard up to this point, and forcibly relaxed his emotions. He had no choice – when the Malierano family was involved, he needed to show diligence and appreciation for the opportunity he was given, that his similarly chosen siblings of specially designed capabilities and skill-sets were never given at his age. He needed to be on his best behavior, now that ‘Father’ was involved.

After all, no matter what was said and done, whether they be Aeron or his ‘Father’; Noel could never hope to escape from his family’s grasp. Not now at least, and certainly not anytime soon. His decisions could only be run by them, in hopes that they would approve and back off.

---