The following day, classes went by as usual.

In the morning at our homeroom class, Mr. Ranya reviewed the different traits of the beast. She went on about how the beast would transcend, the same as us, with each fight. So it was very important that we eliminated this threat, as they had the potential to overtake us one day if they were not kept in check. The conversation was enlightening, if not more, but someone was not paying attention like usual.

Brandon's back turned to the front as he chattered away with Eva. It looked like Brandon didn’t care if he was interrupting the class, but Eva’s face told a different story—it showed annoyance.

Annoyance at been called out for not paying attention previously. It had to be said that although she was there to make friends with Brandon, she was also there to learn.

But with Brandon clinging to her like a new baby at every waking moment, she was getting frustrated, and it showed.

“Brandon, why do we pay attention to Mr. Ranya? We can always talk after class,” says Eva, annoyed.

But Brandon was thick-headed. He took Eva’s annoyance as her being mad at the teacher, not him.

“Sure, Eva, this old hag is full of hot air. Who in their right mind thinks that the beast can overtake us? That's just BS,” says Brandon with a tinge of arrogance.

Eva's eyes grow wide as she hears this. “What is wrong with him?” she wonders.

At the same time, Mrs. Ranya spins around and throws chalk at Brandon so fast that all you can see is a blur as it flies straight to Brandon’s head. Next thing you know, the chalk explodes into a cloud of white mist on his head.

“Ouch, what the….” Screams out Brandon, but before he can finish, he is stopped by the death stare Mr. Ranya gives him and Eva.

“It seems like you two lover birds have no respect for authority. How about we meet after school to discuss how you should show respect for your elders?” she says as she gives both of them the evil eye.

Eva’s face is red with embarrassment and shame. Unfortunately, Brandon interpreted it differently.

He didn’t get past the “love birds” part, Mrs. Ranya said. He figures Eva is red from blushing over this comment. He wants to say something, but the teacher cuts him off.

“Brando & Eva, I know you kids are at that age where everything is rainbows and butterflies to you, but this part of the lesson is important,” she says with some authority.

“If you don’t know how to distinguish beasts, what would happen if you met a beast of Transcendent or Mutant rank and mistaken it for a regular one?” she continues to ask.

“You could end up dead or worse. It would be best if you kids learned this. As such, I will need you two to report to me after school to go over this lesson again.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Eva nods in acceptance and does not say anything else. Brandon looks at Mrs. Ranya and wants to say something, but the words don’t come out. In the end, he sits back at his desk, facing forward.

Khyrum looks at them and smirks, “What a bunch of idiots.”

At the end of the class, I went up to the teacher.

“Mrs. Ranya, do you have a minute?” I say.

“Yes, of course, Khyrum,” she says, a little surprised.

As I always kept to myself, I was not much of a chatterbox in class. So, it must have surprised Mrs. Ranya when I went up to talk to her.

“Mrs. Ranya, I would like your guidance on a certain matter. I only ask that you keep this confidential to both of us.” I say, a little strained.

She squints at me as if trying to figure out what is happening.

“Sure, Khyrum, but if it requires outside help, I might circumvent traditional protocols to vouch for your safety. You understand this, right?”

“Yes, I do, ma’am, but rest assured it has nothing to do with my safety. I just wanted to ask if you had a sample or DNA marker for a skill that helps with physical attributes.”

“Physical attributes, hmm. What do you need, something like that for Khyrum?” Mrs. Ranya asks.

“If I’m correct, you haven’t awakened yet, so you should not need any skills,” she continues.

“Just look at me,” I say self-consciously.

“If I want to do something with myself, I must do everything I can to better myself; part of this is my body,” I continue to say.

“Yes, you’re right in that I haven’t awakened yet, but I want to be on the strike team. Tryouts are next in two weeks, so I want to be ready with such skill if I do make it.”

She looks at me with surprise written all over her face.

“I wouldn’t expect this from you, Khyrum, as you’re always quiet and reserved,” she says as she stares.

“But I guess you are right,” she says as she stares out the window.

“Sometimes we must take risks to gain rewards. This world is not fair. It's catered to the strong and their interest. If you don’t fall into that category, it can be very cruel to you,” she says, staring me straight in the eyes.

The stare is unnerving, but I continue looking at her. If I had remembered these words, the future would have been much less painful.

“I wish I could help you, Khyrum, but I do not have any of those DNA samples—not even partial ones—to study. My forte is gravity, so I can do a little bit with my gravity skills,” she says calmly.

“I have two. I can give you one as a gift if you make the strike team,” she says with a smile.

I’m stunned by her words.

“You aren’t joking with me, right, Mrs. Ranya?” I say with a glint of excitement in my eyes.

“I would never joke about this with anyone. I’m a woman of my word, Khyrum,” she says seriously.

“Make the strike team, and I will gift you one of the skills as your prize for making the team.”

I’m just considering what this all means when Mrs. Ranya says,

“OH, by the way, I might not have a sample of the physical trait skill you're looking for, but I think I know who does.”

“Try Mr. Warnick, your physical training teacher. I believe I heard him mention the other day that he had a skill that enhanced one of his physical traits. Don't ask me which one because I do not know.”

“Mr. Warnick, huh? I should have guessed he would be the one, considering he is a trainer,” I mumble.

“I need to talk to him about the ghost in the abandoned training ground to see if he has any information. Maybe I can ask him about the skill at that time. If I’m lucky, maybe he will let me see the DNA sequence,” I tell myself.

I turn around and look at Mrs. Ranya.

“Thank you, teacher, for today. I did not expect you to be so gracious. It was a very unexpected but heartfelt surprise.” I say sweetly.

She looks at me with a little pinkish stain on her cheeks.

“Are you trying to sweet talk your teacher?”

“If so, let me tell you, Khyrum, I’m a traditional woman. I like to be swept off my feet with flowers, poems, and letters,” she says with a playful look.

“What!”

“Hell No!” I say as I bolt out of the room.

Only after I leave the room do I hear Mrs. Ranya laughing hysterically from inside.