After the first day's registration, classes at Cyril Academy began promptly the next day, a swift start.
"You all have Star Power compatibility ratings above 30%, marking you as talented individuals who are destined to become Star Armor users. The core of a Star Armor user lies in their Star Armor, crafted from alloys fused with unique materials," explained a mild-looking middle-aged teacher standing at the podium in a spacious, bright classroom. Below him, most students were distracted, barely paying attention to the lecture, absorbed in their own activities.
The teacher didn't seem bothered by this. He knew the kind of students he had; for most, the basics he was covering were hardly engaging.
"A true Star Armor user nurtures a bond with their armor, until it becomes an extension of their body," he continued, eventually reaching the lesson's main point. "The purpose of nurturing your Star Armor is twofold: to deepen control and to fortify your body. Today's lesson includes distributing your student Star Armor."
At this, he gestured behind him toward fifty metal boxes stacked neatly. His announcement stirred only a few students to excitement; most remained indifferent.
"I understand that many of you have already been exposed to Star Armor and are familiar with it. However, I still need each of you to come up and collect your student Star Armor—it will factor into your performance evaluations."
This finally roused the students, who stood up lazily and made their way to the front.
Soon, all fifty Star Armor boxes were distributed. While a few students were visibly thrilled, holding their armor boxes with enthusiasm, the majority cast theirs aside without interest.
The teacher noted their reactions, aware that those excited students were likely from ordinary backgrounds, for whom this would be their first Star Armor. Those who were indifferent were typically from affluent families who'd had access to better armor long before.
Most students in his class were from privileged backgrounds, which didn't surprise him. After all, this was the "Star Youth Class," a special program grouping the top fifty students with the highest aptitude.
Since Star Power talent could be genetically inherited, it was natural that most top talents came from influential families. For example, Muria's Star Armor compatibility largely came from his mother; his slightly lower compatibility was his father's doing.
After a full morning of classes, Muria gained a general understanding of his school and his curriculum.
At the end of the school day, Suzanna drove into the campus to pick him up, drawing many curious glances. Muria met these looks calmly as he got into the car.
"How was it, Jeros?" Suzanna asked as she looked back from the driver's seat.
"Not bad. Just a lot of classes to take." Muria pulled out his communicator, connecting to the campus network to look up his course schedule.
"That's normal at first. You'll study all subjects, but after a month or two, you can choose electives based on your interests."
"Understood." Muria glanced at his schedule, noting subjects that wouldn't appear on a typical middle school curriculum: "Reconnaissance, Intelligence, National Security, Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, Cryptography…"
"These are all elective courses. Eventually, you'll need to choose at least three as core subjects," Suzanna explained, drawing on her own experience as she drove.
"I don't think I'll have much choice." Muria tapped on a message that had popped up right after his last class, smiling slightly.
"What's wrong?"
"The Douglas family sent me a notice. They want me to enroll in all subjects and keep my grades at an excellent level."
Suzanna pressed her lips together for a moment. "I'd suggest you follow their requirements. If you meet the Douglas family's expectations, you'll continue receiving their resources."
"And if I exceed them, I'll be allocated even more resources, right?" Muria smiled. Studying was hardly an issue for him, especially since he already knew most of the material. Despite being in a different world, the foundational knowledge wouldn't differ too greatly.
"Exactly."
…
"So, this is the Academy-issued Star Armor? No wonder those guys looked down on it." Back home, Muria opened the Star Armor box as his teacher had instructed and examined the simple, white armor inside.
It was a very basic set, consisting only of a helmet, chest plate, a waist guard, wrist guards, and boots—leaving several vital areas exposed.
"Not even a weapon included… It's just a training set." Muria shook his head at the rudimentary equipment.
"Still, it's required for the monthly assessments. Might as well nurture it a bit—it'll at least provide some enhancement to my physique."
Sitting cross-legged, Muria began nurturing the armor using his Star Power ability.
Nurturing a Star Armor not only strengthened the user's bond but also marked it as their own, akin to a "binding" process. If nurturing was completed within a set time, only the owner could operate the armor.
That said, another person could use it if Muria stopped nurturing it and allowed time for his imprint to fade. However, the wait time would be significant. Alternatively, high-end equipment could forcibly reset a Star Armor, although this was generally done only for high-level armor, as the duration of the imprint depended on the power of the user.
A high-level Star Armor user's equipment might require a decade or more to revert to an unbound state for someone else to use.
…
"I'm Harvin, your Aberration Studies teacher. Starting today, I'll be teaching you everything about aberrations. Pay close attention, because some of you will face them in the future, and this knowledge could save your life."
After the bell rang, a muscular man with a rugged appearance entered the classroom. His tone was direct, his manner brisk, carrying an unmistakable air of a military officer.
"Before we begin, let me lay down some ground rules. What I'm about to share with you is classified information. None of you, regardless of your background, are permitted to disclose any aberration details to ordinary civilians."
Hearing his words, some students frowned, but no one spoke up. This teacher was clearly not one to be trifled with.
"You may have some understanding of aberrations, but it's incomplete. Now, be silent and listen closely, or you'll find out what happens when you cross me," he said, baring his white teeth in a menacing smile.
"Aberrations come in many forms, but they can be divided into three main categories: Descended, Native, and Mutated! I'll start by discussing the type you're most likely to encounter—Mutated Aberrations!"
"To help you understand the threat of Mutated Aberrations, I've brought a live specimen as a teaching aid, so you can observe it up close."
Teacher Harvin tapped on a device in his hand, signaling for assistance. Soon, two soldiers in uniform entered, escorting a young girl restrained by chains.
The girl looked about fifteen or sixteen, with blonde hair and striking blue eyes. She was beautiful, with a mature figure, but her arms were bound, and her body was wrapped in chains. Her mouth was gagged with a metal device, clearly in discomfort.
Seeing her harsh treatment, several students frowned uncomfortably.
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