The trees swayed in frenzied movements as the wind howled through the storm, and the clouds wept in mournful symphonies, rain hammering the cobblestone path of Mahal Bastion. General Alphonso’s car, known simply as The Beast, sped down the slick road, sending water splashing in all directions.

Seated in the back, General Alphonso stared out the rain-streaked window, the darkened skies reflecting his mood. “Has anyone managed to contact him?” he asked, his voice low and commanding, turning his attention to the wiry assistant seated beside him.

“Uhmmm, well, sir,” the assistant stammered, adjusting her glasses nervously. “Because the information is highly classified, we thought it best to inform him in person—”

The General scoffed, cutting her off. “So, no?”

The assistant shrank slightly in her seat. “No, sir,” she admitted, her voice barely audible.

Alphonso shook his head in irritation. “Be more direct next time, Ellow.” He tugged at his tie, loosening it as a deep sigh escaped him. The weight of what was to come loomed heavily on his shoulders. "Are you sure he'll be in class? "It’s a damn monsoon out there.”

“Scath wouldn’t miss a day with his students if the world were falling apart, sir,” Ellow replied, a hint of admiration in her voice.

Scath paced back and forth in front of his classroom, buzzing with excitement despite the damn rain that had ruined everything. The storm outside made the room feel cozier, almost too cozy—his students were already succumbing to the lull of sleep. He was only a quarter into his lecture and had already cautioned multiple students for dozing off. One he sent to the restroom with instructions to "wash the sleep away," while another he turned into his impromptu assistant, standing by his side and holding his water bottle as he battled the seductive pull of the cool breeze sweeping through the room.

The morning before class began, he awoke with a shudder. Scath woke up two hours ahead of his alarm clock. He rubbed his eyes, the tug of fatigue still lingering, and no matter how he tossed or turned, sleep remained elusive. After a few futile minutes of trying to venture back into the dreamworld, he gave up and swung his legs off the bed, his towering frame somehow dwarfed by the enormity of his room.

This living space had been one of the major reasons he’d accepted the offer to become an instructor. He’d been sceptical when General Alphonso had first approached him, but one look at the staff quarters of Mahal Bastion had been enough to change his mind.

The room reeked of elegance and opulence, as if the designers had peeked into Scath’s mind and extracted everything he found ‘cool.’ A strip of shimmering blue rock ran through the middle of the room, connecting seamlessly at the ceiling and dividing the space into two sections.

On the far right, a grand waterfall cascaded over jagged stalactites that hung like the teeth of an open-mouthed beast. The water tumbled into a vast pool below, where schools of vibrant fish swam in a delicate frenzy. Scath could’ve sworn he’d seen the fins of a much larger creature lurking beneath the surface once—though he might have been under the influence of alcohol at the time.

However, on this particular morning, his lack of sleep exacerbated the irritation, despite the room's aesthetic appeal. He stretched, the familiar creak of his muscles a welcome distraction. Deciding a run would clear his head, he dressed in his favourite tracksuit, carefully selected his favourite socks from the pile, and laced up his favourite running shoes.

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“Nothing’s going to ruin this day,” Scath muttered to himself, brimming with forced optimism as he stepped outside. He was determined to find some joy in the gloom.

The early morning carried a certain subtlety, as though wrapped in a blanket of fresh starts, casting a quiet beauty over everything it touched. Scath jogged down the winding road that branched away from the student dormitories, leading from the staff quarters toward the open woods—the part of the campus he cherished the most.

The gracious morning breeze brushed past him as he picked up speed, running through clusters of foliage and wildflowers swaying gently in his wake. The distant grumbles of wild turkeys and the family of deer darting away at the sight of him filled the air with the pulse of life. He skilfully weaved between trees, dodging loose branches, and the wind formed rippling waves across his bald head as he pressed forward.

But then, as if nature had conspired against him, the sky erupted with a violent crack of lightning, followed by the booming roar of thunder. The once-refreshing droplets of morning dew transformed into glassy torrents, falling hard and fast on Scath’s body, and for a moment, he felt a surge of frustration so strong it nearly brought tears to his eyes. Not only did the rain cut short his run, but it also threatened to ruin the day he had been eagerly awaiting all weekend—the launch of a new training course for his students.

Cursing under his breath, Scath slowed to a stop, glancing up at the storm clouds that had settled over the school. The rain had obliterated his plans for an exciting, hands-on day outdoors. Instead, he would find himself confined indoors, enduring boring classroom discussions.

Disappointed, Scath turned back, making his way toward his quarters to prepare for the duller, rain-soaked day ahead.

Scath's students sat in a mix of agonised attentiveness and restless energy as he spoke. He couldn’t entirely blame them—given the choice, he would also prefer mornings of combat practice over dull lectures filled with information that seemed to hold little real-life value. But he was determined to make it as engaging as possible.

"And that’s how, from the roots of your hair, you draw your affinity to the elements!" he boomed, pacing the front of the room with exaggerated gestures. "The hairs on your skin are a literal manifestation of your gifts! The colors? They symbolise the specific powers you possess!" He finished by playfully ruffling the hair of the mini teacher, Heed, who was reluctantly standing by his side.

“Mr. Scath,” Heed chimed in, his tone mock-serious, “not to stick a pin in your stupendous lesson on hair and the best conditioners to use, but can I go back to my seat now, please?”

“Oh, Mr. Heed! Always the comedian, eh? Finally decided to wake up, have we?” Scath smirked.

“Come on, sir!” Heed whined dramatically. “I’ve been shadowing you for, like, ten minutes. That’s got to be enough punishment. I swear, Scout’s honour, I’m fully awake!”

Before Scath could reply, the deep rumble of an engine caught his attention. Outside, The Beast—a massive vehicle with a menacing exterior—came to a halt in front of the building. The rain had subsided, and sunlight began to stream through the clouds, casting a magnificent glow on the sleek vehicle. Scath’s interest shifted away from Heed’s pleading, his eyes narrowing as he wondered why the General had come all this way without so much as a heads-up.

Without a word, he excused himself from the class and made his way outside. His students, in contrast, made no attempt to hide their excitement. They rushed to the windows, eager to catch a glimpse of the imposing machine. In particular, Heed stood frozen, eyes wide with awe.

"Hey, Niamh, you really should come see this; it's so cool!" Heed exclaimed with enthusiasm, his gaze alternating between his phone and the car. He was scrolling through pictures, comparing the real-life vehicle outside with the ones he'd seen online. "I've only seen this on TV and in videos!"

Niamh, sitting a few feet away with a lollipop in her mouth, watched Heed in full fanboy mode. Despite the embarrassment she'd felt earlier from being caught dozing off when she could feel the entire class' eyes on her, she found herself smiling at Heed's over-the-top excitement. The tension dissipated as her classmates' attention shifted to the windows.

She stood up and walked over—not because she was particularly interested in cars but because Heed cared, and that was enough. "So, what’s all the fuss abou—oh wow, okay, I see it now. That’s... actually pretty magnificent," she admitted, staring out the window at the imposing vehicle. She instantly comprehended the vehicle's moniker, The Beast.