The television shone with images of heroes soaring through burning skies, their eyes blazing like miniature suns as they cut through hordes of variants.
Eight-year-old Riva landers pressed her face against the screen, eyes wide with wonder."That's gonna be me," she whispered to the empty apartment. "Just wait and see."
Her parents and friends had filled her head with dreams. greatest hero of her generation, destined for glory, born to save the world. In Fortizo, where combat talent ran thicker than blood in the water supply, expectations were currency. And Riva had been rich, until she wasn't.
High school valedictorian meant nothing at university level. Being the smartest kid in Fortizo was like being the tallest dwarf in a circus. When she arrived at the academy, surrounded by actual prodigies with bloodline crests and family legacies, she became background scenery overnight.No elite agency wanted an enforcer with mediocre spatial manipulation abilities and a chip on her shoulder.
The Arcanum Division took her because they took everyone; from the desperate, the ambitious, the morally flexible."Fingers aren't equal," she'd realized during her first year as a junior enforcer, watching connected agents leap-frog past her into prestigious positions.
"Some people will always be stronger, better. But strength isn't everything."Information was power, Loyalty was negotiable, Morality was expensive.
At twenty-two, Supervisor Riva had achieved more than her childhood dreams had dared imagine. But it still wasn't enough. It was never enough.She stared at her reflection in the office window, taking in the sharp features that had hardened over the years, the red eyes that had seen too much.
"I hate myself," she whispered to her reflection. "I hate all of us. Human greed is a bottomless pit. No matter how much we have, we'll never stop wanting more."
The lecture hall was with the restless energy of thousands of students crammed into tiered seating. Professor Martinez droned on about rift economics and world order while Huey picked his nose with the dedication of someone mining for gold.His mind wandered to his father, lying motionless in that hospital bed And his mom who he hadn't even really met, was probably worried about his well being at school. Maybe he should visit this weekend, he thought.
"Mr. Cross!"Huey's finger froze mid-excavation. The entire lecture hall turned to stare at him, including Professor Martinez, whose mustache twitched with barely contained amusement."Perhaps you'd like to share your geological discoveries with the class?"A few students snickered. Huey wiped his finger on his pants and grinned. "Just checking if my brain's still up there, Professor".
Martinez's face reddened."How delightful. Since you're so confident in your intellectual vacancy, perhaps you could enlighten us about the 10 departments of Virelia Institute and their post-graduation career paths?"
Huey stood up, opened his mouth to answer, then sank back into his seat. "You know what? I don't know."
The silence was deafening. Students who knew Huey as the guy with all the answers stared in shock. Even Martinez looked confused, this wasn't the Cross family prodigy he was used to dealing with."Well... perhaps someone else from Logistics and Support could assist?"A girl in the front row stood gracefully. Luan Yao was the kind of beautiful that made poets weep; long black hair falling like silk, perfectly pressed uniform, and an intelligence that radiated from her composed posture."
The departments serve distinct societal functions," she began, her voice clear and confident. "Combat Division produces our front-line defenders—the Topplers who engage variants directly. They join agencies like Luce Nera or form independent teams."She gestured elegantly as she spoke, making even academic exposition seem like performance art."Rift Sciences handles research and prediction. Graduates work in labs, study dimensional phenomena, and develop new technologies for variant detection and containment.""Medical Research focuses on crest-related injuries and psychological trauma from variant encounters. They also study the biological effects of rift energy exposure.""Law Department creates the legal framework for our post-rift society. They handle Toppler regulations, variant attack litigation, and international policy.""Technology Development creates the tools we use, from detection equipment to protective gear to weapons systems."
She paused, meeting Martinez's eyes directly."And Logistics and Support coordinates everything else. We're the backbone that allows the other departments to function. Evacuation protocols, supply chains, communication networks, civilian protection. We make sure society DOESN'T collapse." There are other departments as well such as the media and journalism, entertainment, Economics and general studies, but I believe their roles are self explanatory. The applause was thunderous.
Martinez beamed like a proud father."Excellent, Ms. Yao. You've demonstrated exactly what I wanted to emphasise, every department plays a crucial role in our society's survival."
"That's your academic rival," Jazz commented as students filed out. "Luan Yao. Level 1 Aeon crest, telekinetic manipulation of lightweight objects. Brilliant mind, perfect grades, and as antisocial as a hermit crab. Reminds me of the original operator, actually."
Huey barely heard him but his eyes were locked on a figure gliding down the lecture hall steps like winter personified. Mira Veltman moved with liquid grace, her purple-gray braids catching the light, those impossible black eyes with silver rings scanning the crowd with predatory awareness."Dude," Willy appeared beside him, grinning. "You're drooling."Wheeler materialized and blew a low whistle, the wind construct somehow managing to look impressed.Huey ignored them both, mesmerized by the way Mira's presence seemed to drop the temperature by several degrees wherever she walked.
"Come on," Willy tugged his arm. "We've got time before next class. Let's hit the pool, the swim team's ladies are training right now.""You've been more fun lately," Willy continued as they walked. "More like how you used to be. You know, before what happened with your dad…. "Huey's expression darkened immediately. ."Shit, sorry man. I didn't mean to—""It's fine." But it wasn't, and they both knew it. Willy was about to say something else when a blur of blonde hair and confidence intercepted them.
The girl was tiny but commanded attention, blazer tied around her waist, high-top Jordans, chest-length tie, and a lollipop stuck in her mouth like a cherry-flavored cigarette."Huegen Cross?" She extended a manicured hand. "Alessia Cardoso, Media and Journalism. I was looking for you the other day but found your roommate instead." She shrugged casually. "Calvin seemed nice, so I figured why not?"Huey and Willy exchanged looks of pure bewilderment."Philosophy of life," she continued, pulling out a tablet. "But I'm here on business. Take a look at this."
The photo showed a party in full swing, students laughing, drinks raised, the usual university chaos."Party from two weeks ago. Supposedly alcohol-free, but students will be students. They brought substances. Nothing new there, right?""So they got high," Willy shrugged. "Not really our business.""They got more than high." Alessia's expression turned serious. "This stuff altered their minds and body". Made them more powerful, but also unstable and after it wore off, several students became completely unresponsive, the stuffs really addictive too."
She swiped to another image, a missing person flyer with a familiar face."Recognize him? One of your missing students cases. He was addicted to whatever they were using." She looked directly at Huey. "I know you're good at solving crimes. I want to work together."Huey studied her for a moment, then smirked. "What's in it for me? And what happens if I refuse?""Willy," Alessia said sweetly, "could you give us some privacy? What I'm about to discuss doesn't concern you."Willy bristled. "Who do you think you—""It's okay," Huey interrupted, placing a calming hand on his cousin's shoulder. "I'll fill you in later. Promise."
After Willy left, muttering under his breath, Alessia pulled up another image on her tablet. Security footage showing Huey in a bathroom, blue electricity crackling from his fingertips."I was going to ask for your help that day," she said quietly, "but you looked... unapproachable. Then you weren't in your dorm when I went looking."Huey's casual demeanor evaporated. "Delete that.""If I wanted to expose you, I already would have. Why you lie about being crestless is your business. I just want to work together."They stared at each other for a long moment, then Huey nodded slowly.
Later that afternoon, Huey walked through campus in his hazard suit, explaining to an absent audience: "Virelia holds monthly field exercises where students apply classroom theory to real situations. Today's Logistics and Support field day."A student bumped into him, dropping flyers everywhere."Sorry! Hey, you should check this out, the Annual Crest Showcase! It's like the Olympics for students. Competition in combat, academics, creativity—" The student stopped mid-pitch, noticing the gold cross at Huey's throat. His face went pale. "Oh God, you're... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I know you can't..."He fled, leaving Huey holding a colorful flyer. After a moment's consideration, Huey tossed it in a nearby trash bin."
Yo, Huey!" Jonas Martinez jogged up, his red hair wild and his grin mischievous. "Ready for another thrilling day, hahahaha?" he burst out laughing at his own sarcasm.
They made their way to the faculty building, joining the cluster of students gathered outside the HOD's office. Huey recognized most faces; Luan with her perfect posture, Willy chatting with Wheeler, Khadija taking notes on everything, the Thompson twins looking like they'd rather be literally anywhere else.
Professor Lorenzo Giacomo emerged from his office, all smiles and energy despite his early thirties. His buzz cut was sharp enough to cut glass, and his striped suit looked like it came straight from a fashion magazine."My beautiful students!" he announced, arms spread wide. "Ready to see how the real world works? I've got someone special to supervise your field exercise today."
A figure stepped from the shadows behind his desk. Red eyes, tall, Black hair styled in a feminine high-top fade."Meet your supervisor," Giacomo said cheerfully. "This is Riva landers from the Arcanum Division."Huey's blood ran cold as recognition hit him like a physical blow.
This wasn't going to end well.