Upon arriving at school, William was warmly greeted by his two best friends, Levi and Kael.
The morning sun gently illuminated the school building, casting long, calm shadows between the footsteps of the students. There was a warmth in the air, but Liam's heart was still shrouded in the fog of grief. His steps felt heavy, but he could no longer delay. The world kept moving.
In the distance, two figures stood near the gate. Waiting for him.
"Liam!"
Levi waved his hand, his smile as wide as usual, though his gaze betrayed a concern he couldn't fully hide. Beside him, Kael leaned against the gate with his arms crossed, his expression neutral but softening slightly as Liam approached.
"Hey, Mr. Chemistry finally came down from the mountain," Kael greets him, trying to sound casual. "Ready to be hit with a semester's worth of homework?"
Liam almost smiles, but only nods slowly.
Levi approached and patted his shoulder warmly. "We won't ask any questions, bro. We're just glad you're back. The class has been so quiet without the quietest person who's the best at physics."
"And let's be honest, who else can make the math teacher feel stupid besides you?" Kael added, making Levi chuckle.
Liam sighed. This time it felt a little lighter. They acted normally… even though everything had changed. But at least, there was still a world I could call home, he thought to himself.
However, not all the welcomes were that warm.
Although the news of the tragedy that had befallen his family wasn't widely publicized, rumors spread quickly like wildfire in a dry forest—especially in a school filled with drama-hungry teenagers. Some showed sympathy, others kept their distance. Some began whispering in the hallways, debating the truth of the rumors that were circulating.
It wasn't just about the bloody tragedy… But also about Liam. About who he really was.
The rumor that William Louren was an anomaly—a creature with extraordinary powers—became a gossip that never died down. The school became a field of whispers, suspicious glances, and an odd silence every time Liam passed by.
But that morning, between Levi and Kael, at least he could still feel… human.
Soon, the school bell rang. Kael shrugged his shoulders and prepared to go to class.
"Let's meet up again during break, okay! I want to treat you guys—I made a big profit yesterday, man! You guys are missing out by not joining my business," he said jokingly.
Levi chuckled. "Relax… I've already reformed. I want to join Liam's smart circle, huhu."
Kael grinned, glancing at Liam briefly. "I should've teamed up with Liam from the start. The business would've grown even more. Mhehehe… Alright, I'll go first!" he said as he walked away.
"Alright then," Levi replied, then turned to Liam. "I'm heading to the teachers' room first. Liam, do you want to come?"
Liam shook his head slowly. "Nah, I'll stay here. I'm scared of being questioned by the teachers," he said lazily.
Levi laughed. "Yeah, you're right. They might make us talk all day."
As his two friends left, Liam sighed softly and took his headphones out of his bag. He put them on his ears without playing any music. He had a small—even devious—plan. He wanted to see how corrupt human hearts could be.
Without saying a word, he curled up, pulled his jacket over part of his face, and rested his head on the table. A small movement, but enough to cut himself off from the outside world.
And this was what he wanted to hear. Their reactions—his classmates' reactions—to all of this. It didn't take long for the voices to start. Softly. Hesitantly. But they grew clearer over time.
"Hey, is that really true... Liam's family was killed? Like in those dark news stories?"
"Yeah. But they say it wasn't just murder... they say there was some weird symbol at the crime scene. Like a ritual or something."
"I heard... the killer wasn't an ordinary person. Or... maybe it was Liam himself?"
"Hey, don't say that! What if Liam hears and gets angry?"
"Angry? But wasn't he already strange from the start? It's crazy; an ordinary person couldn't survive a tragedy like that. Plus, there were no injuries at all. It's like... he's not an ordinary human."
"You think he's... an anomaly?"
A moment of silence, then another voice spoke up with more confidence.
"A monster. I've been saying it all along, his aura is different. His gaze is... so cold. I'd rather not get close to him."
"But they say he's nice. His close friends never have any issues."
"Yeah, that's exactly it. Anomalies can disguise themselves too. You don't see them coming. Suddenly—BAM!—you've lost an entire school."
A small laugh followed, but there was an unmistakable note of fear in it.
Liam remained silent. He just took a deep breath from behind his jacket. No reaction, no movement.
"I knew it. One move, and their rottenness came to the surface," Liam muttered softly.
"Monsters? If that's the case... then why do I still feel pain? Stupid humans. Afraid of what they don't understand."
Without Liam realizing it, his red eyes began to glow—slowly but sharply—almost damaging the contact lenses he was wearing.
After a moment, his emotions subsided, replaced by a tension that slowly rose.
"Hey, look!" exclaimed one of the students sitting near the window.
Instantly, all the students turned toward the window. The classroom on the second floor faced the schoolyard—and the sight there left everyone speechless for a few seconds.
Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway. Levi appeared, breathing heavily, his face tense. He immediately approached Liam and tapped his shoulder quickly.
"Liam…"
Liam lifted his head, his eyes immediately fixating on the window. His expression changed instantly. Panic. His heart raced.
"Hey, is that… a reporter? Why is it so crowded?" asked a student in a panicked tone.
"Look at those cars… They have the Nexaris logo!" said another, her face pale.
"Seriously? Nexaris? Isn't that the organization that's been all over the news lately?"
"What are they doing at our school?!"
Liam, upon hearing that name, froze. His breath caught in his throat. Levi touched Liam's shoulder. Then he looked at him with a signal that they had to leave immediately.
Outside, several elegant black cars with the Nexaris logo were seen stopping on the field and parking lot, accompanied by journalists beginning to set up their cameras.
The crowd grew more panicked.
"Will there be an inspection today?" whispered one student.
"I heard… they can detect 'strange children.' Maybe…" murmured another, softly.
Liam could only grip the edge of the table, trying to look calm—though inside, a storm of anxiety was already brewing.
The commotion in the classroom grew louder. The students asked each other questions, but none of them truly knew what was happening.
"Why is Nexaris here anyway?" whispered a male student, his voice trembling.
"This isn't a regular school event, is it? There's never been a car like that parked here…"
As Liam was about to leave the classroom, the homeroom teacher suddenly appeared before them.
"All students are requested to remain calm and stay in their seats."
The situation grew increasingly chaotic until the school intercom suddenly came on, cutting through the commotion.
"Good morning. All students in grades 10 to 12 are requested to gather immediately at the main field. We ask for your cooperation to remain calm and follow the school's instructions. Thank you."
All the students fell silent instantly. The announcement was repeated several times. The voice filled the classroom corridors.
Liam froze in place. Levi turned to him, his expression growing serious.
"I think we can't escape now, Li…"
"Liam…" Levi whispered, staring at him.
Liam nodded slowly, though in his heart he was already preparing for any possibility. Liam approached Levi until they were just an arm's length apart.
"If all this comes out, don't get involved anymore," Liam said softly. Levi's face was filled with panic, and hesitantly, he nodded.