Chapter 30: Just Another Day

It was a regular day in the Academy. The usual clatter of trays, laughter, and the hum of conversation filled the air in the common area. Rory Blake sat at one of the tables in the middle of the mess hall, halfway through a tasteless sandwich while absentmindedly scrolling through his tablet.

Across from him, Dana Wright was flicking through the latest Academy updates on her own device, her eyes barely moving. There wasn’t much to talk about. Today was the same as any other—training sessions, schedules, the occasional test. Routine.

“What do you think’s on the docket for later?” Rory asked, breaking the silence.

Dana shrugged, not looking up. “Probably more drills. Standard stuff. Nothing new.”

Rory grunted, nodding. That’s how things usually went here. The Academy wasn’t known for excitement. Training and control were the priorities, and if something interesting did happen, it was always way over their heads. Nothing that ever got to their level.

He turned his attention to the other students scattered around the room. Most of them were just like him—meta-humans with varying levels of control over their abilities, trying to make sense of their place in a world that didn’t always know how to handle them. The Academy’s goal, at least as they were told, was to help them understand and manage their powers, though there were whispers of other agendas beneath the surface.

There were always rumors.

Rory’s mind wandered back to one of the more recent ones. He had overheard students talking in hushed tones about the Galewood explosion, about the two survivors that had been taken by the academy. The story had spread like wildfire across the media, but no one really knew what had caused the explosion or who was behind it.

Only that two people had survived.

“I heard something about the Galewood survivors again,” Rory said casually, his eyes drifting to the screen of his tablet. “You think there’s any truth to the rumors that they’re being held here?”

Dana snorted, her expression bored. “You’re still hung up on that? Who really knows, Rory. You really think they’d be here? The Academy has, what, dozens of facilities? Could be anywhere.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Rory shrugged, feeling a bit foolish for bringing it up. “I know, I know. Just… It’s hard not to wonder sometimes.”

Ever since the explosion, there had been endless speculation about what had happened. And like most stories, the mystery had only deepened over time. The media had run with it, and now everyone had their own version of the event. Two survivors, both metas, had somehow walked out of a city-wide disaster. No one knew much more than that, but the sheer fact that they survived had made them rather famous.

Some students claimed they had heard whispers that Jake Foster and Levi Blackwell—the two survivors—were being held here in the Academy, somewhere deep in its hidden wings. Others dismissed it as nonsense, saying the Academy would never keep people like that here. The rumors were just background noise at this point.

Dana rolled her eyes, clearly tired of the subject. “Even if they were here, they’re probably locked up in some secret lab. It’s not like we’re gonna bump into them in the common area.”

Rory chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, and I’m the gullible one.”

He was about to take another bite of his sandwich when the low murmur of conversation around them started to die down. Rory frowned, glancing up from his tray. The usual buzz of the mess hall was fading, replaced by something quieter—something like confusion.

Dana noticed it too. “What’s going on?”

Rory followed the gazes of the other students, looking toward the large doors at the far end of the common area. They had opened, and standing between two armed guards were two figures Rory didn’t recognize—at least, not at first.

The sight of them stopped him cold.

The first boy, tall with a tense, guarded posture, had dark hair and a stern expression. There was something heavy about the way he moved, like he was carrying more than just himself. The second, however, was impossible to miss. His hair was stark white, and his eyes glowed a faint, unnatural red. Rory had never seen anyone like him before.

“They’re not…” Rory started, but his voice trailed off.

Dana sat up straighter, her eyes widening. “Is that… them?”

Rory didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. It was obvious. There, standing in the middle of the mess hall, were Jake Foster and Levi Blackwell—the survivors of the Galewood explosion.

The rumors were true.

Rory could hear the whispers starting to spread through the room. Students turned in their seats, watching the two boys with a mixture of fear, curiosity, and disbelief. The guards flanked them like they were ready for anything, but Jake and Levi seemed unaffected by the attention. If anything, they looked…bored.

“Why are they here?” Dana whispered, her voice barely audible.

Rory couldn’t answer. The sight of Jake and Levi in the common area didn’t make sense. These were the two who had survived the destruction of an entire city. They shouldn’t be here, mingling with the rest of them.

Jake’s eyes scanned the room, but his expression remained cold, distant. He didn’t acknowledge anyone, didn’t say a word. Levi, on the other hand, seemed to be taking in the stares with an almost amused detachment. He even smiled faintly, as if he found the attention entertaining.

“They look… normal,” Rory said quietly, his voice shaking slightly. “I mean, not… not what I expected.”

Dana didn’t respond. She was still staring at them, her brow furrowed.

The room was still, all eyes on Jake and Levi as they were led further into the common area. Rory could feel the tension rising, the uncertainty creeping into the atmosphere. No one really knew what to do.

Then, without a word, the guards stepped aside, leaving Jake and Levi standing alone in the middle of the room.

For a long moment, no one moved. No one spoke. It was as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something to happen.

But Jake and Levi didn’t do anything. They just stood there, watching the room with unreadable expressions.

After what felt like an eternity, one of the guards gave a nod and stepped back through the doors, leaving the two boys behind.

The whispers began again, louder this time. Questions, speculation, fear. Rory couldn’t take his eyes off them.

“Holy shit, I can’t believe they’re actually here.” Dana muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing.

Rory couldn’t possibly agree more.