"School?" the kids repeated as they climbed onto the bus that would take them to the location specified by Marie.
Aiden boarded with Podbe and immediately headed to the back of the vehicle. He sat silently, gazing out the window while the dog rested at his feet. The others stole glances at him, some concerned, others curious. Aiden hadn't been interacting much with the group in recent months, and his distant attitude was starting to generate murmurs. Some saw him as dark and mysterious, but others, like Cain and Hela, found his behavior intriguing. They decided to sit near him, exchanging knowing glances as they tried to start conversations that barely received responses.
Riota, on the other hand, couldn't shake off his guilt. He looked around, searching for Benjamin, but he was nowhere to be seen on the bus. "What if this is all my fault?" he thought, frustrated for not noticing sooner what was going on with his friend. Floud, oblivious to the general tension, sat next to him excitedly, swinging his legs with enthusiasm.
"What excitement! We're going to school!" Floud exclaimed, grinning widely.
In another seat, Akira was absorbed in carefully arranging pieces and nuts, while beside him, Max and Liam quietly argued. Both were visibly frustrated because they couldn't stay with their older brother Axel. According to the rules, everyone under eighteen had to attend school, and this would be the first time the trio would be separated.
"The Rightyard trio without us? This makes no sense," Max muttered, crossing his arms. Liam nodded, sharing his discontent.
Gat, seated in a secluded corner, absentmindedly watched the others. A brief flashback crossed his mind:
"Why do I have to be here? I'm twenty-six!" Gat had protested in front of Ezekiel.
"You'll go with the others," Ezekiel responded firmly. "You're now a thirteen-year-old teenager, like Aiden. So you'll go to school… as punishment for what you did. The others have already informed me."
"Fine," Gat had finally replied, resigned.
Meanwhile, Rayna and Arryn, known as "The Gold and Silver Girls," were busy trying on different earrings they had created using their powers. The jewelry sparkled under the dim light of the bus, reflecting golden and silvery flashes that caught the attention of those around them.
In another seat, Timmy stared intently at Lita, who kept her hands hidden beneath the sleeve of her hoodie.
"Hey, why are you hiding your hands?" Timmy asked curiously.
Diego, sitting nearby, opened his eyes wide, alarmed, and smacked Timmy's arm.
"Hey! Don't ask her that," Diego quickly said, fearing the answer.
Todd suddenly appeared beside Timmy, startling him even more.
"Dude, you really shouldn't ask her that," Todd added, casting a nervous glance toward Lita.
Lita calmly looked up and responded with composure:
"It's because I was born without arms."
Her statement left everyone nearby frozen. Timmy swallowed hard, feeling guilty for his question.
"But… you didn't have arms during training either," he stammered, trying to understand how that was possible.
Before anyone could say anything more, someone boarded the bus and began giving instructions. He was a tall, muscular man with a calm yet commanding presence. Dressed in fitted jeans and a short-sleeved shirt that accentuated his toned physique, he wore a whistle around his neck and sunglasses that concealed his eyes. His short, neatly styled brown hair complemented his lightly tanned skin, weathered from long hours under the sun. Though he appeared to be about twenty-six, his aura exuded unquestionable authority.
With firm steps, he made his way down the aisle, his voice resonating throughout the bus and instantly silencing the chatter. He reached the back where Aiden was seated, and fixed him with an intense gaze.
"So, you're the one I have to keep an eye on," he said, briefly lowering his glasses to reveal piercing brown eyes that inspired both respect and fear. "I hope you're not going to be as troublesome as some others on this bus."
The message was clear, and everyone on the bus felt a shiver run down their spines.
Even Cain and Hela were intimidated, though their expressions barely betrayed it; they always maintained a tough facade regardless of the situation. However, Abel was the one who truly showed fear. Permanently attached to his brother due to the curse binding their powers—which prevented them from being separated for too long—Abel couldn't help but shrink into his seat under the imposing presence of the muscular man.
Aiden, for his part, responded only with a slight nod. Though he tried to remain impassive, he also felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the man. Without another word, the bus began to move, leaving behind any semblance of calm.
But just as the wheels started turning, a desperate shout echoed from outside. Benny, the elastic boy, was running clumsily toward the vehicle. He tried to catch up but tripped, ending up tangled beneath the lower part of the bus, stuck among wires and dust. No one inside seemed to notice his unfortunate predicament.
As the bus moved forward, Aiden sank into his thoughts, recalling the conversation he'd had with Marie before departing.
"I'm sorry, Aiden, but your father won't be able to stay with you. He has work to do as an agent," she had said in a calm voice, though her eyes reflected some discomfort.
"But ever since he woke up, I've only been able to see him a couple of times! That's not fair!" Aiden replied, his voice heavy with frustration and injustice.
Marie looked at the boy with sadness as she watched him lower his head in defeat. She crouched slightly, gently lifting his face to comfort him.
"I know… Nothing is right. Even now, you're forbidden from using your powers, and that device they placed on your ankle to block them—it's cruel, I know. Believe me, I feel deeply sorry for what you're going through, but life is like that. You just need to move forward and recover."
"But it's not fair!" Aiden insisted, pointing angrily at his ankle. "I went from being locked up in an orphanage without freedom to exploring the world, meeting my father, and now… Now I feel like a prisoner again."
"I know, Aiden… As I said, nothing is fair," Marie repeated with a heavy sigh. She gave him a brief hug and added, "Besides Jake, who's watching you from the shadows literally"—she paused meaningfully—"there will also be a second agent assigned to monitor you: Agent E-2."
As Marie walked away, Aiden turned to Podbe, who was sitting silently beside him. He gently stroked the dog's head while murmuring:
"Well, at least I still have you, buddy… But the bad part is, I can't communicate with you like before."
Agent E-2—the same tall, muscular man who had just boarded the bus—now stood nearby, observing silently.
After a while of traveling, the bus came to an abrupt stop. Agent E-2 stood up and ordered everyone to disembark. As they stepped off the bus, the students found themselves facing an enormous educational complex called "Blue Hills." It was an impressive institute, designed to accommodate a large number of students. Its high, sturdy walls surrounded the entire perimeter, clearly intended to keep prying eyes and gossipers at bay. Located between a city and a town, the place exuded both modernity and intimidation.
When everyone had gotten off the bus, something strange emerged from underneath the vehicle. An amorphous mass, covered in soot and dirt, rolled onto the ground. Some screamed, others backed away in fear. But soon, the shape began to shift, stretching and molding itself until it revealed the figure of Benny.
Agent E-2 looked at him with evident disdain.
"What the hell?" he growled, crossing his arms. "Go take a bath and change your clothes immediately. This is ridiculous."
Benny, visibly embarrassed, nodded quickly and ran toward the main building, leaving behind small black footprints.
"Poor Benny, he always gets into trouble," Abel commented with a sigh, watching as the elastic boy disappeared into the main building.
Cain, with his usual indifferent yet curious tone, asked:
"And what was his agent code again?"
Before anyone could answer, Agent E-2 appeared before them with an imposing stance. His voice rang out clear and authoritative as he introduced himself:
"I'm Dustin Changement, and I'll be in charge of monitoring you all. Don't forget that, kids. Is that clear?"
Everyone nodded quickly, impressed by his seriousness. Dustin added:
"I'll return with someone who will show you everything you need to know about this place. Don't move from here."
Once Agent E-2 walked away, Marin couldn't help but comment:
"Is this a military base or a school? Look how he treats us."
Megumi, ever practical, responded:
"You'd better not say anything. He might hear you."
Amaya, with a warm smile, added:
"As strict and serious as he seems, deep down, he's a good person. He's just doing his job."
The kids nodded silently and began entering the facility. Aiden, along with the others, was amazed by the sheer size of the complex. It was huge, like an amusement park in Miami, filled with interconnected buildings. There were sports fields, swimming pools, competition areas, and perfectly manicured green spaces. The entire place radiated a mix of modernity and functionality.
Suddenly, Aiden heard familiar voices calling out to him from a distance.
"Aiden! Aiden!"
He turned quickly and saw Maria and Billy running toward him. Both wore the school uniform: white shirts with black vests, black shorts, dark socks, and elegant shoes; the girls wore skirts of the same color. Without hesitation, the three friends embraced tightly. They hadn't seen each other in almost a year, and their reunion was emotional.
For a moment, Aiden let out a genuine smile, allowing himself to enjoy the warmth of the moment. But soon, his face returned to the serious expression that had characterized his demeanor lately.
Mark and Leila, watching from afar, exchanged glances.
"He's been like this since that day," Mark murmured, referring to the battle against Zeus.
Maria, noticing the presence of other classmates, asked:
"And what are you doing here? I thought you stayed with your unit."
Mark smirked, recalling how some of the girls in the group had become upset when he left. A few even tried to hold on to him.
"It's… a long story," he finally replied, avoiding going into details.
Leila, glancing around, asked:
"And where's Elena?"
Billy pointed to a distant tree where someone was resting on the grass.
Meanwhile, Maria approached Podbe, who remained by Aiden's side. She gently stroked the dog's head and said:
"Podbe! It's great that they let a dog into this place."
Podbe's appearance had changed slightly since Maria last saw him. He was now a bit larger, though still medium-sized, with shiny, healthy fur that made him look both imposing and friendly.
Billy, observing closely, noticed a suspicious lump in Aiden's right sock. He was about to ask about it when Leila stopped him with a subtle gesture. "No," her eyes seemed to say, indicating it wasn't the right time.
Suddenly, three figures appeared before them. The newcomers were slightly taller than Aiden and carried an arrogant demeanor that immediately caught the group's attention. The boy in the center, with spiky black hair as dark as coal and piercing brown eyes, walked straight up to Aiden:
"So, you're the brat of the portals, huh?"
On either side of him, two boys who looked like twins completed the group. Both had short hair and light brown eyes, their expressions just as challenging.
"So, he's the famous one? Right, boss?" one of the twins asked mockingly.
"Bah! So the rumors are true," Leonard, the dark-haired boy, interjected, crossing his arms arrogantly. "You can't use your powers… And what good is having someone like you here? Besides, you're not the only one who can do 'those things'."
Suddenly, a dark circle began forming in Leonard's hands. It quickly grew to the size of his body, and without warning, he stepped inside it. A second later, he reappeared behind the group through another circle he had created in midair.
"See? I'm better. And unlike you, I can use my powers whenever I want," Leonard said with a smug smile as he pointed at Aiden's ankle. "Not like you, with that shackle holding you back."
"What shackle?" Aiden asked, confused.
"That one," the boy replied challengingly, snapping his fingers for emphasis.
Immediately, dark circles began to form in the air, floating beside Aiden's foot and also around the twins accompanying him. The circles emitted a faint glow before activating, and the twins' hands were sucked into them as if passing through an invisible dimension. A second later, their hands reappeared directly over Aiden's leg, moving with precision to quickly pull down his sock.
The metallic device attached to his ankle was exposed to everyone, gleaming under the dim light. It was small but intimidating, with thin lines that seemed to pulse faintly, as if it were alive. Aiden's expression hardened as he felt humiliation wash over him, though he tried to maintain his composure.
"As I suspected," Leonard said with disdain. "With that thing on, you can't use your powers. You're like a tamed animal, a prisoner. They only use you when it suits them."
Billy and Maria frowned at the sight of the device, clearly upset by how Leonard and the twins had humiliated Aiden. Podbe also reacted, growling threateningly at the three intruders. Aiden's other companions, indignant, began stepping forward, ready to defend him.
"What? You want a fight?" Leonard responded, unfazed. Then he turned to the twins. "Get ready, guys."
Pointing at Podbe and the agents nearby, Leonard added:
"That little dog doesn't scare me, and neither do all your little friends."
Before the situation could escalate further, a female voice interrupted the confrontation.
"Leave. Stop bothering everyone, Leonard."
Everyone turned to see a girl with short hair approaching calmly but firmly. It was Elena.
"Miss Elena!" the twins exclaimed in unison, visibly blushing upon seeing her.
Leonard, though pretending indifference, quickly replied:
"Bah! Fine, just for you, sweetheart. But do this guy a favor"—he pointed at Aiden with contempt—"and tell him not to act so important just because he made international news. Though I heard it was his uncle who caused all the chaos."
With one last defiant glance, Leonard and the twins walked away, leaving the group in an uncomfortable silence.
Aiden, still angry and embarrassed, wasn't sure whether to go after them or simply let the moment pass. He had kept the secret of the device precisely to avoid situations like this.
The girl who had intervened calmly approached and pulled up his sock, covering the device again.
"It's okay," she said softly. "Everything's fine."
Elena, with comforting sweetness, added:
"It's good to see you again, Aiden."
The young man blushed slightly at the sound of her voice. There was something about her that always managed to calm him, even in the toughest moments.
At that moment, Dustin appeared, agitated and irritated.
"I told you not to move!" he shouted, glaring at everyone. Then he gestured to a young woman who had just arrived. "Alright, all of you, come with me. She'll take care of you."
Aiden's friends quickly began saying their goodbyes.
"See you later, Aiden," Billy and Maria said before heading back to their classrooms.
"Yeah, see you," Aiden replied, still somewhat distracted by what had happened.
The young guide approached him with a kind smile.
"Hi, Aiden. What are you doing here? Don't you remember me? I'm…"
"Lidia! There you are. I've been looking for you," a young man interrupted, running toward them. "I already have someone else waiting for us."
The newcomer greeted Aiden with a warm smile.
"Hi, Aiden. It's me, Rino. Don't you remember us?"
"Hey, guys," Aiden replied with a somewhat forced smile, still processing the uncomfortable encounter with Leonard and his group.
Lidia observed him curiously as they walked.
"You seemed to be in some kind of trance," she remarked, tilting her head slightly. "Is something wrong?"
Gat, always with his peculiar sense of humor, chimed in:
"Yes, I think he was in the 'trance of love.'"
Josh didn't miss the chance to respond sarcastically:
"Looks like you haven't learned, Gat."
Meanwhile, Lidia and Rino approached Podbe, who remained by Aiden's side.
"Hi, Podbe," they said in unison, but the dog only responded with a polite bark, as if evaluating them before deciding whether to trust them.
Rino crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"So it's true what they've been saying…" he murmured, glancing sideways at Aiden.
Lidia, with a compassionate expression, added:
"Poor Aiden… It can't be easy for him to face all this."
Suddenly, Dustin's authoritative voice interrupted the conversation.
"Please, follow me," he ordered, abruptly cutting short the pleasant reunion. Before the group began to move, Dustin fixed them with a stern gaze and added, "I'll be watching you."
Though his tone was firm, his eyes shifted toward a shadow projected on the ground.
"I expect you to do the same," he said, addressing the dark figure that seemed to move among the shadows of the area.
On a distant planet, within an advanced scientific facility, preparations are underway. Two carefully selected figures stood before a team of scientists. Both wore dark silver suits that completely covered their bodies, including their faces, leaving only a faint silhouette under the dim light. One was taller than the other, and both radiated a mix of determination and tension.
A deep voice echoed from the shadows.
"I expect you not to fail me," warned the hidden figure, whose imposing presence filled the room.
Both subjects responded in unison, their voices muffled by the helmets of their suits:
"No, sir."
One of the scientists stepped forward, handing them a circular device that resembled a futuristic watch.
"This will allow you to travel to Earth and return," the scientist explained, handing over a third special device. "And this one you'll use to bring back the boy with powers."
The two candidates nodded decisively. They knew there was no room for error.
The scientist raised his hand, pointing to the portal that was beginning to form in front of them.
"Three… two… one…"
And with a flash of light, they vanished, ready to carry out their mission.