Chapitre 2: 2;THREE YEARS AGO
The sun hung lazily in the sky, its golden rays stretching across the sprawling cityscape below. Wisps of white clouds floated aimlessly, their soft edges glowing with sunlight. The air was warm and carried a gentle breeze, which ruffled the leaves of nearby trees and swayed Leo's black hair as he reclined on the slanted roof of the academy building.
The world felt calm, peaceful—a rare moment of serenity in the bustling life of a student at the prestigious Chrono Academy. Leo's blue eyes gazed out over the horizon, but unlike the hardened, predatory glare of his future self, these eyes held nothing but warmth and wonder. His pupils were round and human, reflecting the life of a boy who had yet to know true loss.
Leo stretched his arms behind his head, sighing contentedly. "Kai," he said suddenly, his voice carrying just enough volume to be heard over the soft rustling of the wind. "If you had to choose a power—like actual, supernatural power—what would you choose?"
Kai, a boy of the same age and equal talent, lay sprawled beside him on the roof. His short brown hair was messy, his expression relaxed and playful. He turned his head toward Leo, raising a brow.
"What's that about?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.
Leo shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Oh, you know. Just a general question."
Kai sat up slightly, resting his elbows on his knees as he thought. "Okay, if I had to choose… what would I choose?" He rubbed his chin in mock seriousness, exaggerating his pondering.
Leo chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't strain yourself, genius."
Kai snapped his fingers. "Got it! Blood control. Imagine that. It'd be the coolest power ever—like total mastery over people and their movements. I could be unstoppable."
Leo laughed, sitting up and brushing the dust off his clothes. "You'd turn into a supervillain within a week."
"Probably," Kai admitted with a grin. "But hey, that's the price of greatness."
Before Leo could retort, a distant bell rang, its chime echoing across the campus. He sighed, pushing himself to his feet and stretching. "Come on, time for class."
Kai flopped back onto the roof, groaning dramatically. "What's the hurry? It's just English. Let's chill a little longer."
Leo was already walking toward the edge of the roof. He glanced back at his friend, smirking. "If you want detention, that's all you. I'm not taking the blame."
Kai watched as Leo disappeared down the stairs, his voice drifting back. "Traitor!" he shouted, scrambling to his feet. "At least wait for me!"
Leo's voice echoed back with a playful tone. "Might as well retire from life if you're this slow. My grandma could beat you in a race—with her eyes closed."
Kai caught up quickly, falling into step beside Leo as they made their way to class. "Oh, is that a challenge?"
"Don't start something you can't finish," Leo replied, his grin widening.
The two walked together, their banter light and carefree. For all the pressures of being top students at the world's greatest academy, moments like these reminded them they were still just boys.
As they approached the classroom, Leo's gaze drifted upward. The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, its vastness stretching endlessly. For a brief moment, his smile faded, and his thoughts turned inward.
How did it all lead to this?
The memories came rushing back, vivid and unrelenting.
Ten years ago, a young boy of age 5 wandered the streets, his thin frame shivering beneath a tattered coat. The bitter winter wind bit at his exposed skin, and his stomach ached with the gnawing emptiness of hunger. This boy had no name, no home, and no hope.
That boy was Leo.
The streets had been his entire world, a harsh and unforgiving place where survival was the only goal. He knew the cold intimately; it had become a constant companion, as familiar as his own shadow. Hunger was less a sensation and more a state of being, something he had long since accepted.
But even for someone like Leo, there were limits. One night, weakened by sickness and hunger, he attempted to cross the street, his vision blurred and his legs trembling. He didn't see the car.
The impact came suddenly, a rush of noise and pain that knocked him to the ground. For a moment, everything went black.
When he woke, he was in a hospital bed, his frail body wrapped in warm blankets. A man sat beside him, his expression a mix of guilt and concern. The man introduced himself as Dr. Halsey, a scientist known across the globe for his brilliance and innovation.
"I'm so sorry," Dr. Halsey had said, his voice gentle. "But I'll make this right."
And he did.
Dr. Halsey didn't just pay for Leo's medical bills—he took him in. For the first time in his life, Leo had a home. Clothes, food, education—everything he had ever dreamed of was given to him. Dr. Halsey even gave him a name, adopting him as his own son.
For Halsey, Leo was more than just a child he had saved. He was the answer to a silent pain the doctor had carried for years—a curse that had left him unable to have children of his own. In Leo, he found redemption, purpose, and a family he had thought he would never have.
Leo, in turn, idolized his new father. His loyalty and gratitude were boundless, and he dedicated himself to repaying the man who had given him everything.
Over the years, Leo thrived. He won awards, set records, and became a beacon of excellence. The world knew him as Leo Halsey, the prodigious son of the great Dr. Halsey. Even though everyone knew he was adopted, the respect he earned was genuine.
At Chrono Academy, the most prestigious institution on Earth, Leo met Kai—a boy who rivaled him in talent and ambition. Their friendship began with a series of competitive challenges, each pushing the other to greater heights. Eventually, their rivalry turned into camaraderie, and they became inseparable.
But while Leo and Kai built their futures, Dr. Halsey continued to pursue his own dream. After 14 years of relentless research, he achieved the impossible: the creation of the first cryosleep drug. The invention was revolutionary, a breakthrough that promised to change the course of humanity.
NASA immediately recognized its value, funding Halsey's work with millions and granting him the honor of a global broadcast ceremony. The world would united to celebrate his achievement, awarding him the Nobel Prize in front of an audience of billions.
For Leo, the ceremony was more than just a recognition of his father's genius—it was a moment of pride, a testament to everything his father suffered to achieve, and in just a mere few hours, the world would know it too.
As Leo and Kai entered the classroom, Leo's thoughts returned to the present. He smiled faintly, his gaze drifting out the window. The sun shone brightly, and the world felt alive with possibility.
He couldn't have known that in just a few short days, everything would change forever.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone