The black jeep was waiting outside the house entrance. As almost every day, Beiskir was the driver, but today the destination was different. Once inside, I greeted him, and the jeep reversed to hit the main road, leaving behind the affluent neighborhood next to the lake. The route to the city ran along the lake shore, with worn-out houses and businesses like garages and farms on the left side of the road. After a few minutes, we were just outside the parking lot of my new school.

- "Sorry, kid, but we'll take a detour. Don't worry; we won't be late," Beiskir said without turning the steering wheel to enter the parking lot.

- "Just like we didn't last time, I suppose," I retorted.

Beiskir was somewhat like my personal bodyguard, responsible for my schedules and transportation. He wasn't particularly good at it, but he took on the job from the beginning and was always there for me.

The detour seemed to include a stop, as Beiskir decided to turn a couple of narrow streets later at the café near the gas station.

- "Get out; we need to talk," he said loudly so that I could hear, and I opened the car door. Entering the café, Beiskir chose the most remote table from other customers and ordered two coffees.

- "As you know, you're not like the others. The reason you're going to high school is to stand out, to maintain the prestige of your position, Dave," Beiskir began after taking a sip of his coffee. "So, you need to impress everyone. Make them see you as unattainable yet open and friendly. That's why you're going to high school—to earn the respect of others."

I interrupted,

- "Yes, yes, your brother wanted to remind me of that once again, I presume."

Beiskir's brother, Professor Stuart, was in charge of my education. Together with a small team, they had taken on the task of perfecting my abilities. Unlike Beiskir, Professor Stuart was strict, never tolerated mistakes, and demanded excellence. He was the reason I had reached this point, knowing the material for all subjects, being comfortable in any room or conversation, and having the best athletic abilities in town.

- "I know it may sound redundant, but your brother insisted on emphasizing it once more," Beiskir continued. "In class, you won't need to pay much attention; you've already learned it all. But everyone expects you to excel without seeming like you're trying too hard. Also, make everyone like you and spend time with everyone. Even the most foolish might help us in the future. Everyone should think you're entertaining, yet, be careful not to indulge in mortals' humiliations. That could be damaging."

- "I love how your comments always contribute," I said, laughing, taking a sip of coffee.

- "In any case, you got the essentials. Make yourself appear superior—that's why you're going to high school. Gain the respect of others. Oh, and Stuart mentioned that joining the basketball team is important. I don't think I forgot anything."

- "I think you forgot to check your watch," I said, pointing to the wall clock.

Beiskir jumped up, grabbed his folding phone, and headed to the counter.

Someone might be overwhelmed by these rules and expectations, but I couldn't say the same. My entire life was devoted to becoming what I was, something beyond humans—the chosen one of the god of war, Ares, to mortals. That's why I always had to train and be ahead of everyone. That's why I never went to regular school, spending minimal time with friends and more with 'significant' adults. But now, everything was about to change. Finally, my life would resemble something close to normal, and with the best conditions.

I heard the car opening and got in. The interior was leather, with a small screen for the radio station. Of course, I would arrive a bit late, but it was expected. Beiskir drove as fast as he could to the high school building and stopped outside the entrance. The school looked like any building constructed almost eighty years ago.

- "Well, as I said, I'm not your nanny," Beiskir remarked.

- "Thank you, Beiskir," I replied.

- "I'll pick you up when you're done."

Beiskir tied his long black hair into a ponytail before starting the car and leaving. Now, I was alone. I turned and looked at the entrance. There were other students who were running late, and they quickly noticed my presence, starting to talk quietly in their groups. In the end, that was the purpose—to be the subject of discussion.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I quickly headed towards the closed gym, where the principal would give a speech before the new school year. Passing through the hallways, just before the gym entrance, I glanced at the stands, trying to spot Beith or Gerard. They were the only friends my age, and we would be in the same class. We all lived in the same neighborhood on the other side of town, across from the lake. There were a few large houses there, as it was the neighborhood of Fremont's wealthiest citizens. Making friends was challenging when our council granted us the new house. At least their moms were very friendly and introduced us from the moment we arrived. There were other kids in the neighborhood, but when I had some free time, I always chose them.

I located them somewhere up in the stands talking with a large group. I started making my way from the entrance to the stands, and gradually, everyone began to look at me. Initially, most of them didn't realize that I was entering the space, but as I walked past the basketball court, everyone was staring and whispering. I began to climb the bleachers, and as I passed the basketball court, everyone was looking and whispering. I started going up the steps, and those sitting next to the stairs would stand up, greet me, shake hands, and introduce themselves. After a while, a teacher restored order, and I continued to climb, with my only contact with unknown classmates being a "good day" or a welcome from the older students, to which I responded as politely as possible until I reached my friends.

- "It seems like you've started making friends early," Gerard said while offering his hand for a friendly handshake.

- "For now, I just want to hang out with you guys, and I'll find time for the others later," I whispered back. Then I turned and greeted the rest of the group.

Most of the students sitting with them were familiar to me. We had met only a few times, but they had been shown to me in photos or mentioned in stories. They were all classmates, and according to Beith and Gerard, they were the group that went out whenever they went to the city center, something I had done only a few times due to my unique education.

The principal appeared from the gym entrance, and everyone fell silent. When he reached the center of the court, a young teacher handed him the microphone, signaling him to begin. The principal conducted some tests on the microphone and prepared to start.

- "Dear students, we welcome you to another school year," he paused briefly until the applause and cheers from the students stopped. "This year, like every year, our goal is your progress and development as students and individuals. But this year will be somewhat different, as our school welcomes a privilege it had lost in the last seven years. After the previous favorite of the gods, who graduated as an excellent student from our school, we welcome the next favorite of the city, Dave Greywood."

The whole auditorium filled with cheers and applause, while those around me turned to congratulate me.

- "We are very proud that the gods honor us with your presence, Mr. Greywood, and thank you very much for choosing us," said the principal, looking towards me, and I responded with a gracious gesture.

In reality, all these thanks were somewhat forced. The nearest high school was in the next town, sixty kilometers away, and the reason I attended was labeled as political by Professor Stuart. But I liked that everyone was simply happy that I was there. In the whole country, religious fanaticism was enormous. In the other eleven cities, the other eleven favorites of the gods performed similarly.

- "Classes begin next hour. you will receive your schedules from Mrs. Margaret at the entrance. For all other information, you will be informed in your classrooms. May the Twelve watch over you, and may Athena illuminate your studies. Good luck."

After the principal finished his speech, he left the room, and everyone began to disperse. I hid among the few acquaintances I had, hoping that the entire school wouldn't stop for some unnecessary greeting. Once we left the gymnasium, Gerard, Beith, and I turned into the opposite corridor from the entrance, as we agreed to go last to avoid the crowd.

- "Finally, Dave, we did it. We're all together in school," Beith celebrated enthusiastically.

- "This means I'll finally see you guys every day. It's time to do big things," I replied.

- "Be careful not to get too proud because of your fame and forget your old friends," Gerard mocked, while tying his long blond hair into a makeshift ponytail.

I wasn't bothered by his sarcasm. He had always been like that, always expecting the worst and always trying to see the bad side. But I understood him. He was exceptionally intelligent, and most of the time, he turned out to be right. His insults were more of a warning to us than an attempt to harm us.

- "Don't overreact, Gerard. Dave would never do that."

- "Just like you were never going to cry for Clara," he replied, making both of us laugh and causing Beith to blush.

After a few minutes, we also went to the entrance to get our schedules. The good news was that at least we had some hours together; the bad news was that the schedule looked enormous.

- "Has anyone seen when the basketball tryouts are?" I asked.

- "Tomorrow before noon. Are you going too?" Beith asked me with surprise.

- "Yes, why does it seem so strange to you?"

- "Since we were kids, you only watched us, you never played."

I shrugged indifferently because I didn't know what to say. I had been forbidden from the day I became the chosen one to compete with other kids in most games, with the excuse that it would be disrespectful to the gods for mortals to believe they could constantly beat someone associated with the gods. Also, I never tried to play with them because I had minimal energy left from my training and lessons. Now, however, I had to represent the school and, consequently, the city in the school basketball championship, as the chosen ones always did.

After spending some time getting to know the group of kids more, it was time for the first class, which was history. By the time I entered the classroom, students of various ages were greeting me, and some suggested spending time together if I needed company