The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.

– Franklin D. Roosevelt

August 28th

As I stepped off the bus, the morning sun casted a golden hue over the sprawling grounds of Ascendant Academy. My heart burst with anticipation. The air was alive with the hums of excitement and possibility, mingling with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass. Although I was already undertaking a mission, I felt the weight of responsibility and the thrill of boarding on a new adventure.

Deep in the back of my mind, there was a lingering feeling that my mission would be derailed. That there will be alot of tumult occuring in this institution.

No. I pushed aside my doubts. Focus on the mission. To gather information of the chaotic duo who created the catastrophic event known as the Great Global Genocide.

Although my mentor didn't agreed with me, he allowed me to come to this school due to him believing that my intuition was never wrong. I believed that the criminals who caused the incidents will be attending this school. I also believed that the persons will be wearing some sort of disguise. Even though I'm only working with little information, I believed that I can find the culprits before the three year period ends.

My plan was nebulous at best, relying heavily on intuition. Even though few dared to pursue this case due to the culprits were like a walking time bomb, I had managed to enlist two private detectives to infiltrate the academy as teachers.

The genocide was started by Bishop Jacob Jones and Sister Helena Hamilton— two prominent members of the Church of Chaos. They had orchestrated the tragedy that claimed countless lives, including children. It was a clandestine sydicate that was mostly known underground and spreaded amongst the criminals. In fact, the only reason I even heard of it was due to my mentor, Sleuth. Unoriginal. I know.

Under the furtive organization, they manipulated and controlled others to become children of chaos. The church would then encouraged their members to spread discord. Whether it was as small as kicking a poor dog or lying about stealing something to as big as kidnapping someone and murdering them, the church encouraged confusion and violence. Disorder and lawbreaking.

Like a wildfire, their influence had spread across sixty countries. Since each person couldn't get together in one big room due to the overall amount of members, the bishop and sister decided to host a global video call. During the video call, they held a feast for their established churches, which culminated in a mass poisoning.

When Sleuth and I arrived to the church in London, my stomach twisted from the sight. Seeing that many lifes lying dead in front of me was frightening. The sight of many children as young as one that died made my heart ache.

It didn't helped that the video call was still on, meaning that we could also see the millions of dead bodies piled in the room on the monitor screens. I can only imagine how it smells.

When tracing the video, I found out a lot of things. The geolocation of where the video call first started was in Washington, DC. Polices were already at the location, searching for any clues or evidences. There were fingerprints, nit nit a a strand. The only the police found was cyanide which was infuces in the drinks. When my mentor had arrived there, the church was burnt down to a pilt.

I traced the ip address again and it lead me to Solomon Pax's Island. The same island where Ascendant Academy was built on. And I know. There was a high chance that the ip address was tempered with, but something in my gut tells me that the criminals are here.

As I glimpsed around, my eyes drank in the majestic beauty of the academy. Its elegant architecture towering above me in silent grandeur. The sprawling campus seemed to stretch on endlessly, a labyrinth of corridors and classrooms. I couldn't help, but marvel at the thought of the knowledge and discoveries that lay hidden within those walls. Ascendant Academy was known for teaching beyond PhD level of informations. All knowledge is limitless until we limit the mind.

But amidst the awe-inspiring surroundings, a sense of uncertainty gnawed at the edges of my excitement. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Ascendant Academy than met the eye. That beneath its pristine facade lay secrets waiting to be unearthed. My mentor's words echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the task that lay ahead.

With a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and pushed aside my doubts, focusing instead on the present moment. I joined the throng of students making their way across the courtyard, their voices mingling in a symphony of anticipation and nervous energy.

As we approached the entrance to the main building, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves in the pit of my stomach. The grandeur of Ascendant Academy loomed before me. Its imposing facade a testament to centuries of learning and tradition. I took a moment to admire the intricate carvings and ornate details that adorned the entrance, a silent tribute to the pursuit of knowledge and excellence.

My feet halts in front of a portrait, my eyes opened in awe as I trace the male's face. He has strong features, thick dark eyebrows, emerald green eyes, a hooked nose, pitch black hair and pale skin. The man looked handsome in an almost majestic, otherworldly way. My eyes glances down at the name plate located underneath the golden framed portrait.

'So this is the famous Solomon Pax. He looked very young. Like he's in his twenties.' I thought.

Suddenly, a fair girl stood next me and began to blabbered about the portrait. The first thing I notice about her was her face was scattered with freckles. The girl was of average height. She had blonde hair that stops just below her shoulders and vibrant green eyes which was hidden beneath her circle framed glasses. Her facial features looked so delicate, I was afraid to see what she would looked like when she's angry.

"That's Solomon Jacob Pax!" she said excitedly.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

'I know that. It states right under his name.'

"He was born on March 1st in 1843 and died on March 1st, 1963. He lived exactly one hundred and twenty years. That's twelve decades! Solomon Pax is the founder and creator of this institution. In fact, there were tales told that with his profound power, he created this land by separating the waters and rising the land beneath above. Isn't that so cool?" The girl declared.

It was a rhetorical question so I didn't need to answer. But that was pretty cool. Due to my research, I know everything about the academy, including the founder.

Solomon Pax was a man of wonder. An epitome for geniuses. He was a prime example of what would happen if one had awaken their inner powers. Mr. Pax was called 'The Transcedant Man' and the 'Saint of All Saints' since it was alleged that he had gifted powers from God Himself to the point he can control the weather, gravity, manipulate the earth and the waters and even predict the future! His mind has also transcended our earthly plane as he is able to comprehend and understand why anything and everything the way it is and subjects beyond. Why humanity the way it is? Is there such a thing as objective reality, or is everything subjective based on individual perception? What if death is not the end, but merely a transition to another form of existence?Can we ever truly know anything, or are we limited by our own perceptions and biases? and other such absurb existential questions.

Many also believed that he possessed a God Conscious, a concious that knows all the knowledge of the world including those that are forbidden and hidden from even the people behind the grand schemes of worldwide events. With God Conscious, one can even know what had happen in the past, what has happen in the presence and what will happen in the future.

Mr. Pax seemed like a person from supernatural sci-fi comic book.

I thought the blonde girl would continue talking, but she abruptly shuts up, blushing meekly. She averted my eyes.

Playing her hair, she stated, "I'm so sorry. I talk alot, don't I? It's just that my father admired him so much. In fact, the late honorable Solomon Pax is the role model for my father's tech company. Because of that, he's my role model as well." The girl continued to blabber about what she knows about Solomon Pax.

I raised an eyebrows. 'Tech company? Oh, she means NTC. She's Alphons Ferreira's daughter.' It's funny that I am the narrator of this story and yet, I still write my thoughts down into separate monolgue.

She looked at me in confusion, before her eyes widen.

"Oh, I apologize again. I haven't told you my name, yet!" She tucked her hair behind her ear and offered me a crooked smile, "Well, my name is Elena Ferreira! I don't usually do this, but maybe it's something about your aura."

I nodded. I get that alot.

"I don't do much talking myself."

Hoping that the girl got the hint, I turned around and quickly catch up the remaining students.

But the girl was much faster. She caught up to me with a few steps.

"Hey! You haven't told me your name yet. That's really impolite, mister! What if we're going to be in the same class?"

I can already sensed that Elena will be in my class, so she's right. So far, she seems really knowledgeable as she was able to give me a rundown about the world's super extraordinary genius.

I stopped abruptly and Elena slammed into my back.

"Ow!" Elena shrieked. Her nose scrunched up as she rubs her head.

"Felt like I was slammed into a wall," Elena mumbled.

"My name is... Augustan Ambrovich. It's great that you seems interest in me—"

"What?!" Elena screeched. It was so loud, many students leered at us before continuing their gregarious conversations.

"I'm not interested in you!" she exclaimed.

"S-Since you were standing next to my favorite portrait, I-I thought that y-you look nice enough to talk to. T-That's why I-I told y-you about the portrait. That's all. Jeez!" She rolled her eyes.

"You think just because you're sooooo handsome, that any girl would want to talk to you, huh? Hmph!" She folded her arms and rolled her eyes again, as if she was annoyed. But the hint of blush on her freckled cheeks and the way she kept glimpsing at me stated otherwise.

The way she got defensive told me she thought exactly what she said. When she began her sentence, as well as when she said I and you, she began to stutter. This shows me that she was lying.

Elena was interested in me. Elena did wanted to talk to me. Elena did think that I was handsome and she also thinks that girls would want to talk to me because of that factor. I'm being so aware. This makes it seems like I'm arrogant.

Ignoring what she said, I continued my sentence, "I'm glad that you find me attractive enough to talk to—"

I help my hand up to stop Elena from embarrassing herself with another weak speech.

"—but for someone who seems so meek and fragile, you quite know how to start a conversation."

"Fragile?!" Elena looked at me with disbelief and I chuckled.

"I can create a gigantic robot strong enough to destroy this whole island, and you call me fragile? I can be as menacing as a villain, you know?!"

"Yeah, a cartoon villain," I snorted out and she hitted my shoulder. Elena folded her arms and hmphed at me.

It was quite easy to get inside her head. She was easy to read.

Although she seems friendly, no one will take her a serious. Her mannerisms—fidgeting, biting her lip, and avoiding eye contact—might not be perceived as threatening. However, it's a basic principle of confidence that maintaining eye contact can assert dominance over others.

Elena seem like an affable and warm yet contemplative and reserved girl who wants her father's approval. Maybe it's because she tried to get her father's attention, but he gave it to someone else. Maybe its because her father doesn't praise her compared to her other siblings and for that, she developed an inferiority complex. Elena is probably attending this acadmey because all her family went to this instution. Maybe its a family tradition. Maybe I should stop reading people and allow them to show themselves to me.

But I also shouldn't ignore any information when given to me. For the moment, maybe she's lying, but something tells me she has a hoax up her sleeves later this term.

"Anyways, let's get going. The mini introduction ceremony will be starting soon." Elena pulled my arms and dragged me.

Inside, we were greeted by the bustling energy of orientation. The new headmaster, Mr. Murdock, stood at the podium, introducing himself and the new administration team. This unexpected change set off alarm bells. My research hadn’t mentioned a new headmaster. What had happened to the old one?

There was a new administration team as well. They all stood behind the headmaster, arranging from shortest to tallest, beaming brightly at us students.

"Good day, stars! Welcome to Ascendant Academy, home to the elites. We won't keep you long as it's already a quarter to five. This isn't the official orientation, but a small welcome program to introduce ourselves. I'm Mr. Murphy and I will be your headmaster for the three years to come."

Something's off. I need to find out what before it's too late.