Bzzt bzzt

  I force myself up and turn off my alarm. My body feels heavy, like I barely slept, but there’s no time to dwell on it. The dim glow of early morning seeps through the blinds, casting long shadows across my room.

  I sit on the edge of my bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My muscles ache—a reminder of yesterday’s training. I exhale, rolling my shoulders before standing up. Today’s another step forward. Another chance to grow stronger.

  The floor is cold beneath my feet as I make my way to the bathroom. The reflection staring back at me in the mirror looks tired but determined. I splash cold water on my face, letting the shock wake me up fully.

  I dress up and get ready for school. The routine is almost automatic at this point—shirt, tie, pants, shoes. Everything is neat, everything in place, though the tightness in my chest doesn't ease. The world feels different lately.

  I grab my bag, checking to make sure everything's in it—books, pens, my phone—and sling it over my shoulder. I glance at the clock on the wall. I’m running a little behind, but it’s nothing new.

  The hallway is quiet. My brother’s room is empty, his door left ajar as usual. He must’ve already gone.

  With a deep breath, I head toward the door, pulling on my jacket before stepping outside. The cool air bites at my skin, but I don’t mind. It helps clear my thoughts.

  Like always, I walk to school with Jin. He’s already waiting for me by the gate, his hands in his pockets and his eyes on the horizon.

  “Did you actually wake up on time today?” he asks, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

  I grunt in response, not in the mood to banter. The lack of sleep still weighs on me, but I push it aside.

  We fall into step beside each other, the usual silence between us comfortable. The streets are quiet, the sounds of the city still distant, and we make our way through the early morning fog.

  The scene of the campus still fills me with awe every time I see it. The sprawling green lawns, the towering buildings that seem to touch the sky, and the hustle and bustle of students going about their day – it all comes together in such a way that I can’t help but feel a sense of wonder each time I step onto this campus.

  Is Kyu not here? I think to myself as I scan around the classroom, my eyes searching for his familiar face among the students. The room feels a little emptier without him, and I can’t help but wonder where he might be today.

  Professor Raynor enters the classroom, his sharp gaze scanning the room as he steps inside. "Settle down," he commands, his voice firm but calm. The chatter dies instantly as everyone takes their seats, the usual tension filling the air whenever he’s around.

  He clears his throat, a subtle gesture that instantly grabs everyone’s attention. "As I’ve said before, the upcoming practical exam is just around the corner. To be exact, it’s one month from now," he continues, his tone steady and serious. "This will be our last class for a long time, so I hope that when you return, you’ll be different—stronger, more prepared. You’ll need every bit of that for what’s ahead."

  "Now, I will teach you a fundamental skill that every Vertius knows: Foresight. So, what exactly is Foresight?"

  "Foresight, as you may have guessed, isn't some magical power or mystical ability," Professor Raynor begins, his voice steady and authoritative. "It's a sharpened instinct, honed through sheer will and determination. It’s the ability to sense even the slightest movements, to detect changes in your environment that others would miss. While others rely on mana or spells, you, as a Vertius, must rely on your focus, your training, and your determination to perceive what’s hidden in plain sight."

  He pauses, looking around the room to make sure everyone is paying attention. "It’s not just about seeing things. It’s about feeling them, anticipating them before they even happen. When you’ve mastered Foresight, you’ll be able to track your enemies, detect danger, and react before anyone else can. Since everything in this world has an aura—even the environment, even if it’s faint—you’ll be able to sense it."

  "Now, everyone, close your eyes," Professor Raynor commands, his tone unwavering. "Tell me, what do you see?"

  The room falls silent as each student obediently shuts their eyes. I can hear the soft rustle of clothes, the shallow breathing of my classmates, and the occasional shuffle of feet. A few moments pass before Professor Raynor speaks again.

  "Is it just darkness?" he asks. "Or do you feel the presence of the space around you? Can you hear the quiet hum of the air, the subtle shift of the floor beneath you? This is the beginning of Foresight—recognizing the world not just with your eyes, but with every other sense you have."

  "Now, focus not only on my voice but everything else around you," Professor Raynor instructs, his voice calm but firm. "Clear your mind of distractions and let your senses take over. Once you master Foresight, you’ll be able to sense anything, even the faintest drip of water, the flutter of a leaf, or the movement of a shadow in the distance. It’s not about seeing what’s in front of you—it’s about perceiving everything, even the things you can’t see."

  The stillness in the room grows deeper as we all concentrate, trying to stretch our senses beyond the confines of our sight. I can almost feel the weight of the moment, knowing that this skill, though subtle, could one day make the difference between life and death.

  "Cancel every noise and focus on just one," Professor Raynor's voice cuts through the silence. "Find that one sound."

  I follow his instructions, pushing aside the subtle rustle of clothes, the shuffle of feet, the soft hum of the room. The tapping of a pen echoes faintly in the background, but I ignore it. My focus sharpens. Then, I hear it—a faint rustling sound, distant but clear.

  A bird on the roof? No… Something’s off. I can hear it clearly, but I can't quite pinpoint where it's coming from. It's not just the roof, the sound seems to shift, moving around in the space above me, teasing me just out of reach. My concentration deepens, but the more I try to locate it, the more elusive it becomes.

  "Where is it?" I whisper to myself, frustrated, but determined to get it right.

  “It’s right there!” I think to myself, my heart racing as the sound clicks into place. Without a second thought, I open my eyes, my gaze darting to the top left window just in time to see a bird fly past. Its wings beat softly against the air, barely audible, but the rustle of its movement had been crystal clear in my mind just moments before.

  I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, a mix of exhilaration and awe flooding through me. That was Foresight—the ability to sense even the smallest presence before it becomes visible.

  Professor Raynor’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “Now, imagine that skill applied in battle. You’ll be able to track your enemies, anticipate their moves, and react before they even know what hit them.”

  A student raises their hand, a look of curiosity on their face. "Is that the reason Li Wei is able to fight against monsters so well, even though he's blind?"

  Professor Raynor gives a small nod, his gaze steady. "Exactly. Li Wei has honed his Foresight to an incredible degree. His blindness doesn’t hinder him; it sharpens his other senses, making his perception of his surroundings almost unparalleled. With his heightened instincts, he can sense the movement of monsters long before they come into range."

  The room grows quiet as the students take in this information. I can’t help but feel a sense of admiration for someone who can overcome such a significant handicap through sheer determination and focus.

  Bzzt bzzt

  "It seems it’s already time," Professor Raynor says, glancing at the clock on the wall. "I hope that you can all enhance your Foresight further in the coming weeks, but keep in mind—don’t overdo it. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to burnout, and that’s something none of you want. Remember, balance is key."

  He gives a nod, signaling the end of the lesson. "Class dismissed."

  The room stirs as students start gathering their things, the weight of the lesson lingering in the air. As I stand up and head toward the door, I can’t help but think about what Professor Raynor said. Maybe, just maybe, if I keep pushing, I could master Foresight the way Li Wei has.

  I sit down on a bench in the middle of the campus, closing my eyes to focus. The noise of the world around me fades away as I cancel everything else and focus on just one.

  The footsteps of students, their laughter, the calls of distant birds... and then something different. A slight shift in the air, a faint sound of breath behind me. Jin!

  I quickly open my eyes and turn just in time to see him standing there, a mischievous grin on his face. "Gotcha," he says, clearly proud of himself.

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  I shake my head, rolling my eyes. "You really thought you could scare me?" I mutter, but there's a small chuckle in my voice.

  "Well, you were too focused," he shrugs, not realizing how close he came to actually being detected. "Guess I’ll have to try harder next time."

  I close my eyes again, trying to regain my focus, blocking out Jin’s presence and the noise around me. My breath slows as I attempt to return to the stillness I had before.

  "Hey, what are you even practicing?" Jin’s voice interrupts, louder this time, clearly amused.

  I sigh, feeling the tension of trying to concentrate with him so close. "It’s called Foresight," I explain, keeping my eyes shut. "It’s a skill that helps sharpen your senses—being able to detect things without needing to see them."

  There's a pause before Jin lets out a snort. "That sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Are you sure you’re not just trying to zone out?"

  I can hear him shifting behind me, clearly not taking it seriously, but I push forward, determined to ignore him. “It’s real,” I mutter, "and you’ll understand once you try it."

  "Try it? Sure, how do I do it?" Jin asks, his voice dripping with sarcasm but tinged with genuine curiosity.

  I open one eye, glancing at him. "You can start by quieting your mind. Focus on the sounds around you, like I was doing just now. Cancel out everything else and tune in to just one thing."

  Jin looks skeptical, crossing his arms. "And that’s supposed to do what? Help me hear invisible stuff?"

  I close my eyes again, trying to ignore his teasing. "It’s not about hearing invisible stuff. It’s about sharpening your senses. When you get it right, you’ll be able to detect things you wouldn’t normally notice."

  Jin snickers. "Sounds easy enough. I’ll be the judge of that."

  I can feel his amused gaze, but I resist the urge to open my eyes and snap at him. It’s not like he’s taking this seriously, but maybe, just maybe, if he gave it a try, he’d understand.

  Jin scrunches his face, clearly trying to focus, his brow furrowed in concentration.

  "312... students coming from the east," he mutters, his voice steady but unsure. "Six birds, one of them injured, coming from the east... and Kyu... crying?"

  His eyes widen as the words leave his mouth, a mix of surprise and disbelief on his face. "What the—did I actually sense that?"

  I look at him, equally stunned. "How... How did you do that? I couldn’t even follow you."

  Jin shrugs, looking a little embarrassed now. "I don’t know. It was like... something clicked when I tried it. All the noise around us just faded, and then I could focus. I didn’t even think it was possible."

  I can’t help but feel a mix of awe and frustration. He barely even knows what he’s doing, yet he pulled it off. "You weren’t even taking it seriously," I say, my voice a little incredulous. "And you still nailed it."

  Jin flashes me a grin, a little sheepish now. "Guess I’ve got some natural talent for it. Maybe I should start practicing more."

  I shake my head, amazed at how easily he picked it up. "Don’t get too cocky. Let’s go check on Kyu first."

  "Stop!" Jin says suddenly, his hand outstretched to halt me.

  I turn to him, a little confused. "What now?"

  He smirks, clearly getting an idea. "How about we figure it out using Foresight? Heh."

  I raise an eyebrow, not sure where he’s going with this. "You mean you want to keep playing around with it?"

  Jin nods, his grin widening. "Why not? If I can sense everything else, why not try and sense what’s making Kyu cry? Maybe I’ll get it right again."

  There’s something about his confidence that makes me hesitate, but at the same time, I can’t deny that the challenge sounds interesting. "Alright, fine," I say, rolling my eyes. "Let’s see what you can really do."

  We both settle into focus, trying to quiet our minds once again.

  Just as I open my mouth to speak, Jin cuts me off. "Kyu got rejected."

  My thoughts freeze for a moment, the words hanging in the air like a heavy weight. I blink, trying to process what he just said. "What? How do you—"

  Jin shrugs, his tone casual but his eyes serious. "Foresight. I felt the pain in his aura. It’s not hard to piece together."

  I feel a pang of sympathy for Kyu, but there's also a strange admiration for Jin’s newfound ability. I had no idea he could pick up on things like that.

  "That’s... really specific," I say, feeling a bit in awe. "You just... sensed all of that?"

  Jin gives me a small, half-smile. "Seems like it. You want to go talk to him, or do you want me to do it?"

  I hesitate. "I think we both should. He’ll probably need us."

  "No... We don’t need to go to him," I say, shaking my head. "He’ll figure it out on his own. He hates when people see him crying."

  Jin looks at me for a moment, his expression softening as he understands. "Yeah, I get that. Kyu’s always been the type to deal with things by himself."

  I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation. Kyu’s pride runs deep, and I know he won’t want anyone to see him vulnerable, even if it hurts.

  "We’ll just give him some space," I add quietly, turning away. "But we’ll be here if he needs us."

  Jin nods, his grin gone, replaced by a more serious look. "Alright. We’ll leave him be for now."

  We sit there in silence, the weight of Kyu’s situation still hanging in the air. Jin, looking slightly smug, breaks the quiet first.

  "Alright, let’s see how you’re doing now," Jin says, clearly enjoying the challenge. His voice is light, but there’s a glint of mischief in his eyes.

  I glance at him. "What is it now?"

  Jin squints, focusing hard. "Hmm... A leaf falling on the east side. It’s barely making any noise, but I can feel the air shift. Pretty subtle, huh?"

  I close my eyes, trying to focus, but I hear nothing. Just the usual buzz of campus life. "I don’t hear anything. Maybe the wind?"

  Jin smirks, clearly enjoying my struggle. "Not bad. You’ll get it eventually. I mean, it took me like... five minutes to figure this out. Pretty fast, right?" He raises an eyebrow, leaning in as if he's genuinely impressed, but there's a playful edge to his tone.

  I scowl, frustrated. "Five minutes? You’re kidding me, right?"

  Jin chuckles, clearly teasing. "Oh, come on. You really didn’t expect to get it right away, did you? It’s not like I’ve been practicing this since I was a kid or anything." He shrugs, feigning innocence. "But hey, I’m sure you’ll catch up eventually."

  I groan, slumping a little. "This is harder than it looks."

  Jin grins, clearly taking pleasure in my frustration. "Yeah, well, you know, some of us pick up things faster than others. Like… I can hear Professor Raynor yelling at someone on the far left. Sounds like he’s scolding them for being late to class. You should probably work on that listening thing though."

  I close my eyes again, trying to focus, but all I hear is a jumble of noise. "I hear voices, but I can’t make out what they’re saying."

  Jin leans back, crossing his arms, clearly amused. "Man, I’m seriously surprised you’re having this much trouble. It’s like hearing an echo when you’re that far off. But don’t worry, just keep practicing." He pauses, watching me. "So, how about those footsteps from the south? Light and quick, like someone’s trying to sneak up on us?"

  I focus, trying to tune into the sound, but what I hear are just heavy, clumsy footsteps. "I hear someone, but it sounds like they're stomping around, not sneaking."

  Jin chuckles, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Ah, well, you know… some people just don’t have the grace for it. It takes years of practice, not that you’d know about that."

  I narrow my eyes at him. "You’re not exactly humble about this, are you?"

  Jin just shrugs, still grinning. "What can I say? Some of us are just naturals. I’ve been doing this since I was little, you know. You’ll catch up, though. Keep at it."

  I sigh, feeling the pressure building. "Yeah, sure. No pressure, right?"

  Jin doesn’t let up. "Exactly. No pressure at all. I can even hear a couple of students arguing about their homework. One of them is getting really worked up about it. Can you hear it, or are you still struggling to even pick up my footsteps?"

  I focus, but all I hear is random chatter, none of it standing out. "I don’t hear anything like that. Just the usual campus noise."

  Jin laughs, clearly amused by how much easier this is for him. "Told you. But don’t worry, you’ll get it eventually. Maybe in another few years, huh?"

  I rub my temples in frustration. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. You’re a genius at this."

  Jin pats me on the back, still grinning. "Nah, I’m just a little faster. But keep practicing, and you’ll get there. I can even hear a bird flying west, fast like it's scared of something."

  I close my eyes again, focusing, but all I get is the usual ambient noise. "I don’t hear anything... maybe it’s just my brain not working right."

  Jin chuckles. "Yeah, well, no rush. I’m sure you’ll catch up to my level eventually. It’s just, you know… years of practice."

  "This is tiring," I say, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

  Jin looks over at me with a smirk, clearly enjoying my exhaustion. "Yeah, I can tell. You look like you’ve been running a marathon." He pauses, glancing around the campus before focusing back on me. "But hey, you’ll get there. Just need to push through, you know?"

  I slump further into the bench, letting out a long sigh. "I don’t know, Jin. This is a lot harder than I thought. Foresight is nothing like anything I’ve ever tried."

  Jin chuckles lightly, leaning back with his arms crossed. "You’re not the only one who struggled at first. But hey, at least you didn’t try to sense the whole campus like I did. That was a disaster."

  I raise an eyebrow, skeptical. "You? Mess something up?"

  Jin grins, looking a little sheepish now. "Okay, so maybe I didn’t totally nail it. But it’s not like I was born with this ability. It just took years of practice."

  I throw him a tired glance. "Right, years of practice, and here I am still trying to pick up the basics."

  Jin nudges my shoulder playfully. "You’ll get it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually, you’ll get it. Just gotta keep working at it." He gives me a knowing look. "Besides, no one’s expecting you to be a genius overnight. Except maybe you."

  I groan in response. "Great, now I have expectations on top of everything else."

  Jin laughs, a little more genuinely now. "Don’t worry about it. Just pace yourself. But hey, you might want to practice a bit more before the exam. You don’t want to be outdone by me, right?"

  I shoot him a tired glare. "At this rate, I’ll be outdone by everyone."

  Jin laughs again, but it’s not taunting this time. "Nah, you’ve got this. You just need to stop doubting yourself so much."

  I let out a long breath, looking back at the campus. "I’ll try. But right now, I just need a nap."

  Jin chuckles, looking at me with a mischievous glint. "A nap, huh? You know you’re not allowed to slack off. You’ve got a Vanguardis to become, after all."

  I groan, sinking deeper into the bench. "I can’t even get Foresight right, and you want me to become a Vanguardis?"

  "Well, it's something to look forward to. Anyway, I gotta go," Jin says, giving me a quick nod before walking off.

  The next thing I know, I’m sitting on the edge of my bed at home, the cool air from the open window brushing my face. My body aches from hours of practice, but I barely noticed how late it had gotten. The stillness of the room is a stark contrast to the chaotic campus outside, but I’ve long since become used to the silence. The clock on the wall tells me it’s well past midnight.

  I run my hand through my hair, still feeling the residue of the day’s exhaustion. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this drained. Maybe I overdid it with the practice. But I couldn’t stop. I had to get better, had to push through this, even if it felt like I was moving at a snail's pace.

  I close my eyes again, the faint remnants of Foresight still buzzing in my mind. I try to block out the lingering thoughts and focus. The room feels still, but there’s a hum to it, a subtle undercurrent. I concentrate on it, narrowing my attention.

  The tick of the clock. The rustle of my blanket against my leg. The slight creak of the house settling in the cool night air.

  I let out a slow breath, still not fully satisfied. Not good enough. Not yet.

  My mind drifts back to Jin’s teasing, his smugness. He was right, after all—he was good at this. Too good. But that only made me more determined. If he could do it, so could I. Maybe not right now, maybe not tonight, but eventually. I’d catch up.

  I stretch out on the bed, the exhaustion finally catching up with me, and before I can stop myself, my body gives way to the deep, much-needed rest.

  And just before I drift to sleep, a final thought lingers in my mind: Tomorrow, I’ll be better.

  Then, everything fades into darkness.