Chương 7: Trouble In The Cafeteria I
An expression of sheer awe was painted across Raphael's face as he held the wristwatch - the M-watch - in his hand, captivated by its extraordinary capabilities.
"This is really amazing," he marvelled aloud, his eyes reflecting the glow of the watch's digital display. "The ability to gauge one's overall ability, health, and growth status just by wearing it...this is incredible. I must meet the inventor of this device. I have so many questions."
His fascination was so intense that it prompted both bewilderment and amusement from his friends, Devon and Aiden, who shared puzzled glances.
Aiden raised an eyebrow, saying, "Good luck with that. The creator of the M-watch is likely long gone. It's been years, after all."
Devon nodded in agreement. "That's true, Raphael. The academy only managed to obtain the imprint the inventor left behind. That's why they can reproduce the watch."
The trio had just left class and made their way to the school cafeteria, where Raphael had been issued his M-watch.
From the moment it was secured around his wrist, he had been utterly enchanted by it, seemingly oblivious to the interspatial ring that adorned his finger.
His roommate, Devon, then offered a suggestion. "But if you're really that interested in the M-watch, you could visit the academy's tech lab."
Raphael's face lit up at this prospect. He jumped up, ready to dash off to the lab, only to be halted by Aiden's booming voice. "Hold up! The tech lab only opens on weekends."
Raphael's excitement deflated somewhat at this news, but he returned to his seat, his gaze once again drawn to the M-watch gleaming on his wrist.
"Damn, no wonder you're so confident," Aiden said, eyeing the number that flickered on Raphael's watch. "You're nearing B-rank. Jackson wouldn't stand a chance against you."
Devon leaned in, catching sight of the number on Raphael's watch. He swallowed hard, mumbling, "25,450."
Raphael was about to glance at Devon's watch when Devon expertly double-tapped the screen to hide the number. Aiden burst into laughter. "What's there to be ashamed of? Devon's an E-rank metahuman, and I'm a B-rank. As for Jackson, he's a C-rank."
The conversation veered off onto different paths, the trio sharing stories of their lives. Raphael spoke tenderly of his hometown and his mother, his words underscoring a deep-rooted love for technology that went unsaid yet was clearly understood by Devon and Aiden.
As for Devon and Aiden, their experiences in the academy were as different as day and night. Devon had spent his entire life there, while Aiden had joined only three years prior. Their friendship, however, was solid, born out of an unlikely first encounter that had cemented their bond.
Aiden was a rare specimen amongst metahumans, endowed with the prodigious ability to warp both space and time.
His unique talents had captured the attention of the academy, who had promptly snapped him up. Yet, Devon outshone even him, his heightened intelligence so extraordinary that it compensated for any other shortcomings he may have had.
Both shared a deep-seated passion for video games and comic books, a fascination that piqued Raphael's curiosity and made him long to understand the allure of these pastimes.
The topic of family, however, was a chasm Aiden refused to cross. His reticence spoke volumes, and the conversation swiftly veered in a different direction.
Devon broached the subject of Gus, their enigmatic companion, and Raphael's small smile couldn't be contained.
"I was three when we met," Raphael began, his gaze fixed on the owl perched on his shoulder. "I'd just finished my first book on material science when I found him on my porch."
"He was so small back then," he reminisced, a wistful look crossing his face. His story prompted a shared look of astonishment between Aiden and Devon, who found it hard to reconcile Gus's current stature with Raphael's account.
"Was there ever a time when he wasn't small?" Aiden quipped, causing a ripple of laughter to spread between them.
Their merriment, however, was abruptly cut short by a group of newcomers. Clad in the academy's uniform, they radiated an air of conceit and belligerence that signalled trouble.
The ringleader, a teenager boasting orange spiky hair, broke the silence with a confrontational outburst.
Aiden rose to the challenge, his voice laced with contempt as he retorted, "How is it any of your business?" The cafeteria buzzed with anticipation, all eyes riveted on the brewing storm.
The academy was a hotbed of gossip, and Raphael's reputation had preceded him. The arrival of the disruptive students was a surefire sign that a face-off was imminent.
"Aiden, you sure you want to cross swords with me again, after last time?" The spiky-haired teen taunted, a smug expression plastered on his face.
"Absolutely, Richard. Maybe this time I'll dismember those arms of yours altogether," Aiden retorted, the tension palpable as he closed the gap between them.
The cafeteria fell into a hushed silence, the spectators watching the unfolding drama, their eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.
The academy's rules were lax, forbidding students from leaving campus or communicating with the outside world, but otherwise permitting a wide range of actions.
Bloodshed was not uncommon in this place.
"I'll have your blood staining my hands soon enough, Aiden. But not today. Today, I'm here for him." Richard's gaze shifted from Aiden to Raphael, who remained seated, an observer in this unfolding drama.
Aiden's response was swift and resolute. "That's where you're wrong, Richard. He's with me," he declared, his words resonating with an unwavering confidence that left no room for doubt.
With a mane of orange spikes, Richard was instantly recognisable. His adolescent rage seemed to crackle around him, its intensity mirrored by his clenched fist.
He opened his mouth to speak, but was abruptly cut off by a disembodied voice that echoed throughout the cafeteria. "Oh, really?"
Aiden, who had been observing the scene, visibly recoiled at the taunting tone, a deep frown etching itself across his features. His retreat was halted by the sudden appearance of another figure, his uniform marking him as another student, yet his presence suggested something more.
The newcomer, standing tall at 6'1, bore a striking resemblance to Richard, from the rebellious spiky hair to the intense gaze that seemed to challenge anyone who dared to cross paths with him. This was Richard's elder brother, a figure of authority in their school.
Raphael, who had been dismissive of Richard's earlier posturing, was quick to react to the new arrival. His keen senses tingled with a clear warning: danger. His eyes flitted to Aiden, and then to Devon, who was already poised for action.
"Devon, now!" Aiden's command cut through the tension. Without hesitation, Devon seized Raphael and they plunged into the dark portal that had materialised in the middle of the cafeteria.
The three friends disappeared into the abyss, leaving a stunned silence in their wake.
Their respite was short-lived. With a predatory grin, Adrian, Richard's elder brother, reached out, his hand disappearing into the portal, wreathed in a nebulous shroud of purple mist.
A blood-curdling scream echoed from within the portal followed by the unceremonious expulsion of the three friends. Raphael, Devon and Aiden landed in a heap, rising slowly to glare defiantly at Adrian.
"Do you want to die?!" Raphael roared, his voice laced with a fury that had been absent until now. Devon and Aiden turned to look at him, their faces etched with terror.
Devon's voice was barely a whisper as he murmured, "Shhh! You're going to get us killed! Adrian's a second-year student. He's out of our league."
Aiden's eyes flickered with fear at Raphael's outburst. He would gladly take on Richard any day, but Adrian was a different beast altogether. Now, however, with Raphael's challenge hanging in the air, retreat seemed impossible.
Adrian stepped forward, closing the distance between him and Raphael in an instant. His voice was low, chillingly calm as he asked, "What did you say?"
The question seemed to resonate from the depths of the underworld, promising a confrontation that would change everything.
The atmosphere in the cafeteria rippled with tension at Adrian's shout, a palpable pressure descending upon everyone present. His words echoed ominously, "Do you want to die?!"
Raphael, undeterred by the fact that Adrian was a year-2 student, took a step closer, his stance uncompromising. Despite his status as a first-year, his face held no trace of fear.
"This is a first," he said coolly, his tone laced with defiance. "A year-1 student challenging a year-2 in the academy. I'm not sure whether to consider this act courageous or foolish."
"I don't appreciate being threatened," Raphael retorted, his voice steady. "If it's a fight you're after, I'll give you more than you bargained for. Otherwise, I suggest you back off."
The cafeteria fell into stunned silence at Raphael's audacious statement. From Devon to Aiden, jaws dropped in disbelief. No one knew Raphael's power rank, but it was generally accepted that he couldn't be a match for Adrian.
Adrian's eyes sparked with a deadly fervor. "I'll kill you!" he roared.
As Adrian swung a fist towards him, Raphael's body instinctively moved into a battle stance, his own fist flying to meet the challenge. Their fists were about to collide when an uncanny event transpired.
In a blink, Raphael and Adrian were standing a few steps apart, as if the last few seconds had been rewound. A bewildered expression crossed Raphael's face, his gaze flicking towards Devon for answers. But his attention was abruptly diverted by a loud, resonating clap.
"It's no wonder Serena speaks so highly of you," a voice drawled. "You certainly have the audacity."
A youth appeared before Raphael, his hair as white as winter snow streaked with streaks of achilles gold. He wore the academy uniform, sans the blue blazer, and his appearance was so flawless it was as if imperfection was a concept unknown to him.
The sight of him sparked a wave of blushing among the female students. Their demeanors transformed, each vying to display their most attractive qualities.
However, when Adrian caught sight of the newcomer, he recoiled. His voice trembled as he stammered, "What are you doing here?!"
A smirk played on the youth's lips as he retorted, "I should be asking you the same thing. It appears the murderer's division is trying to initiate a war with my elite division."
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