"Want something toddler?" the senior's style was disrespectful. He looked Aaron and Mikaela from head to toe, and continued.

"You're a fine piece! If you mature a little more you'll be perfect!" And that was definitely going towards Mikaela.

"How old are you, senior?" Aaron stepped forward.

"Hah! Definitely older than you!"

"You're definitely older than the lady next to me too. As far as I know she just turned 14. Well, if you're older than 17, you just sexually assaulted a minor."

Aaron was reserved with his words, always more mindful than others his age, yet he remained a young teenager at heart. Aware of his own capabilities and having observed for months the levels even the senior students had reached, he was determined to provoke a confrontation. Mikaela, taken aback, unconsciously grabbed his arm, siently signaling him to halt the argument.

"Are you threatening me, kid?" the boy stood up, advancing menacingly towards Aaron. "If you were a couple of years older, I'd challenge you. But now, it'd look like I'm bullying a junior. So rein in your girl and back off."

It was precisely what Aaron wanted—an invitation, a chance to feel the rush he experienced in the desert. Despite adhering to safety regulations, in his fifteen years, he had sparred only with peers from the 4th house and trained with his brother under a mysterious elder said to be a close friend of their great grandfather.

In an instant, Aaron's complexion darkened and his aura swelled. "Rest assured, if we step into a fight, neither of us will leave unscathed. If you're itching for a battle, I'll give you a battle!"

The classrooms should have been bustling by now, but the commotion in the restaurant had drawn a large crowd. Many lingered to witness how the situation would unfold. Mikaela hadn't uttered a word yet, standing behind Aaron, visibly stressed with her bottom lip bloodied from nervous bites.

The senior, sensing the gravity of Aaron's challenge, grew sullen.

"Is it possible to feel such intensity from this junior? I can't back down now. Acting cowardly would only isolate me."

"MAKE WAY! What's happening here? What's all this ruckus?" Professor Marlowe burst onto the scene, interrupting the escalating confrontation. "Does anyone care to explain? Malvina, Tiara?? Caan, why are you still here??"

Aaron jumped forward, and calmly replied with leaving no room for the senior to avoid the confrontation.

"This senior made several sexist remarks, and when I questioned him, he took offense and.."

"Ah, Mr. Amaral, Miss Vargas! Why are you lingering here instead of in class? Most of the students present are adults; I doubt they'd mind a little banter," Professor Marlowe rushed to speak, subtly directing his gaze towards Tiara.

"OK! Everyone back to the auditoriums! Whoever will be taking the history lesson, be in their seats in 5 minutes! The rest in their electives!"

Humanity may have stepped into the 30th century, but some things have remained the same and unchanged. What still rules is background, money, and sex. Now Aaron was beginning to understand why his family had decided to leave the worldly behind.

Certainly, much had changed in terms of living standards, and the world offered more freedoms and opportunities. However, the relentless quest for superiority and dominance remained deeply rooted.

Organizations based on prostitution, drug trafficking, paid executions, and illegal materials were still common. In most cases, these organizations were run by the high echelons of society.

Change is the very fabric of life. You need to understand it and move forward with it. Aaron may not have been in the mundane world for long, but his observation was constantly on high alert. Based on what he heard and perceived from this specific situation, his suspicions that something illegal is operating within the academy, were probably true.

As the crowd dispersed, Tiara, Malvina, Kaan and his friends made their way to their rooms. However, Aaron remained rooted in place, lost in thoughts again.

"After all these years of reading and learning from my teacher back home, it seems to be true. Sex is raw energy. It needs to be transformed and through transformation there is transcendence. Instead of transforming it, societies and religions always repress it. And once you repress it , the natural result is a perverted person. I'm not sure if I should feel fortunate or unfortunate to be the first from my House to step into this modern world. Everyone wears masks, afraid to reveal their true selves."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Mikaela, still a bit shocked by the situation, had forgotten that she was holding Aaron's hand. Sensing his suddenly sweaty palm, she pulled him determinedly towards the 'History Auditorium'.

"Ms. Vargas! Mr. Amaral! Wait a moment, please!" called out Mr. Marlowe, attempting to stop them.

Mikaela pretended not to hear, but Aaron halted and turned to face the professor.

"I heard that you challenged Kaan to a duel. Is that true?" Mr. Marlowe inquired with curiosity.

"I noticed that he was eager for a fight, but hesitant due to concerns about being labeled a bully. So I challenged him. There would be no misunderstanding! Do you think there will be any misunderstanding professor??" Aaron replied with stature.

Although it wasn't the complete truth, neither was it a lie. Mr. Marlowe seemed intrigued by Aaron's response and swiftly replied, "If the challenge had witnesses, then you have a month to prepare. I trust you're familiar with the rules young boy."

Aaron's excitement doubled upon hearing the professor's words. After all, he was just a fifteen years old boy.

"The fight cannot be avoided this time, senior!"

"Don't worry, professor. Everything is fine! I hope my fellow student prepares as well!" Aaron assured, tugging Mikaela towards the exit.

Mr. Marlowe appeared quite satisfied with how things had unfolded, believing he had resolved two issues at once. He returned to the auditorium, content to continue the lesson.

He harbored a deep-seated animosity toward the 4th House, and it became apparent from the very beginning. Aaron had never quite grasped the reason behind this hostility, especially since he had limited interaction with Mr. Marlowe. The history lessons often felt uninspiring to Aaron, occasionally peppered with misinformation or significant gaps that led him to question the accuracy of his education over the years.

How could such discrepancies exist, if what he was taught was rooted in reality? The stark differences in abilities and knowledge among his Housemates and peers only fueled his doubts. Aaron couldn't shake the suspicion that either the educators and leaders were unaware of these disparities, or worse, they deliberately perpetuated them. Though he encountered some students who displayed potential, there remained a big gap in their comprehension and expertise.

All the houses boasted their own expansive libraries, but over the years, a vast collection of ancient tomes and modern digital data had been amassed in the great academies of Stella Nova and Aetheria. Stella Nova Academy, where Aaron was enrolled, was situated on the African continent, while Aetheria Academy stood distant upon the lands of Latin America. Each academy was home to three distinct houses, in addition to its ordinary student body.

Aaron's enrollment, marked the first time a member of the prestigious Amaral house had attended since their founding. And he was confident that he could hold his own in a confrontation, against a more physically imposing opponent, even one outweighing him by fifty pounds and was four years older.

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"Good afternoon, students. As we approach the end of this quarter, I must say it's been quite the journey, hasn't it? Lets make a fast ressume, and bring to our mind the tumultuous events of late 2097—a time when the world teetered on the brink of oblivion, torn apart by war and the tightening grip of oppression.

Our saviors, arrived in the form of the illustrious Seven ancient personalities from distant galaxies—Zeus, Nüwa, Bastet, Akan, Forseti, Nammu, and Xipe Totec. These esteemed figures, once regarded as gods in ancient history, saw fit to bestow their wisdom upon a select bloodline deemed worthy of continuing humanity's legacy.

And what a legacy it was! Their selection of a worthy lineage to inherit their wisdom and technology marked a crucial turning point for humanity. The global population was dramatically reduced, major cities and capitals were razed, and the infrastructure of warfare was dismantled. This period of upheaval, culminated in the emergence of the seven Houses between 2100 and 2110, each tasked with restoring order and fostering societal cohesion amidst the ashes of unrest.

As we prepare for our final written examinations tomorrow..."

"Hey kid." Someone was whispering, a few feet from Mr. Marlowe.

Aaron almost always occupied seat 33, a choice that often left it vacant. It wasn't just because Aaron preferred this spot; it was nestled in the corner of the room on the third row. The location had its drawbacks—it placed you almost beside the professor and with the entire class at your back. This setup made others reluctant to choose that seat, preferring more discreet positions elsewhere in the classroom.

"I've noticed you a few times in class. Always sit here in seat 33. Do you have a love affair with the chair? Is it some kind of family heirloom?" Caan today had chosen to sit in seat 43, right behind Aaron.

"It's hard to get his attention with nonsense like that anyway, you know." Mikaela today also chose to sit in the front rows, right next to Aaron.

"I took your attention though! I caught your interest? You certainly.."

"Kaan! Watch your tongue! Before you speak, dip your tongue into your mind first! Your family may be part of House Valdez, but everything has a limit. Lady Vargas is the only daughter of Lord Dorian Vargas. She is the first student to enter an academy at the age of fourteen."

Kaan pulled himself together and Mr. Marlowe continued,

"And Ms. Vargas, regardless of social class, some will go down in history as cowards and traitors."

Michaela didn't quite understand what Mr. Marlowe was trying to say, but Aaron from the side understood very well.

His parents had warned him against such a thing. Aaron always carried a sense of detachment, which kept most people at arm's length. Those who were friendly with him often did so without knowing much about his background, and genuine companionship was rare. Mikaela stood out as the exception, courageously choosing to form a relationship with him despite knowing exactly who he was.

And before the professor could continue the lesson, Aaron interrupted.

"I think I will withdraw from your course Mr. Marlowe. According to the regulations I only need to write above the baseline in the exam. Please excuse me."

There was silence in the auditorium. Aaron had already packed his things and started heading for the exit.