Teaching Building Block B, first-floor multimedia studio.
Sierra stood on the podium, gesturing wildly and explaining the "Supe Performing Arts" course in a high-pitched voice.
"Children, in the future, you won't just face criminals, but cameras and the public. Acting is a weapon even more important than your superpowers!"
She glanced at the lifeless students in their seats and pointed to a black youth dozing in the front row. "Theory is indeed boring. Next, let's invite an outstanding student representative who has returned to campus to share his acting journey and techniques."
"Please welcome the pride of our School of Performing Arts, Nathan Mitchell, who has already secured an offer from the Montreal Vought Circus, to share his acting insights!"
Amidst loud applause, the black youth was kicked and nudged by the female classmates on either side of him before standing up with sleep still in his eyes.
Wade recognized him. He was "Sleepyhead," ranked fifty-fifth on the campus leaderboard, famous for falling asleep in various bizarre positions anytime, anywhere.
Most seniors were out running errands or looking for jobs, so he had only bumped into him once or twice on campus.
"Um... hello everyone." Nathan walked up to the podium and stretched. "Regarding acting, my understanding is that you need to perfectly portray the character's traits without being completely bound by them. Audiences love surprising performances; something unchanging won't catch anyone's eye..."
He grew more energetic as he spoke, drifting from character interpretation to the weather, and then to what he had for lunch. The topic wandered aimlessly.
"Ahem!" Sierra tapped the desk, repeatedly trying to stop him with her eyes.
The talkative Nathan continued to ramble, prompting a burst of laughter in the classroom.
Nathan finally stopped and gave a sheepish smile. "Alright, no matter how much theory I talk about, it's useless. Let's do something practical... Are there any volunteers to come up and perform? Let's do an improvised scene."
His gaze swept across the classroom, and he pointed his laser pointer at the back row. "You there, student!"
Wade stood up with a bewildered look and flew down the steps. "Senior, what do you want me to perform?"
Nathan held the microphone. "Nothing much, just playing a vampire."
"There are participation points, and he's an acquaintance." Beside him, Jade jumped up from his seat and followed. "Then I want to act too."
Nathan nodded and smiled. "Then you can be the vampire hunter."
Jill immediately darted out from the front row and hooked her arm around Wade's as he passed. "Then I'll play the vampire bride!"
Nathan shook his head upon hearing this. "No bride. You're going to play the hunter's sister."
Jill pouted crossly. "What? That's no fun at all."
The three of them walked onto the podium in turn, each picking out and putting on props from the clothing rack on the side.
Nathan clapped his hands and said loudly, "Alright, you three. Let's adapt a Supe version of 'Dracula's Castle.' I'll be the narrator."
"Daytime, a dilapidated castle, light shining through a hole. A heavily wounded vampire is lurking in the shadows, and the hunter siblings are searching for him. Now, improvise freely!"
Jade walked onto the stage with a crossbow, while Jill followed cautiously behind him, looking around.
Jade crouched down and wiped the dust off the floor. "That damned vampire is wounded. There are bloodstains everywhere. If we follow the freshest ones, we'll definitely find him."
Jill bit her finger and started acting like a fangirl. "Brother, that vampire is so handsome. Can we not kill him? I want to keep him as a pet."
In the air above the stage, Wade descended from the sky wearing a black and red robe, reaching out to seize Jill. "Hehehe... your sister is mine. Surrender now!"
Jade turned and raised his crossbow, sneering. "My sister is made entirely of ice. Your fangs will surely break! Vampire, die!"
Jill grabbed Wade's hand and retorted sharply, "I have been melted by his burning heart; my body yearns for his fangs. Kill us quickly!"
Just as Wade was about to bite her neck, Nathan interrupted on the spot, "Sunlight shines through the hole in the castle. The vampire is burned and retreats."
Wade reacted extremely quickly, waving his thick cloak and covering Jill's head. "I have an ancestral sun-shielding cloak."
He opened his mouth and let out a low growl, making a move to continue biting Jill's neck.
Jill leaned her head back on his shoulder, bringing her snowy-white neck closer, her face full of intoxication. "Oh, handsome and charming Mr. Vampire! Come, let me have eternal life, or eternal sleep."
Jade put down his crossbow with a pained expression and ran over, flubbing his lines, "I... I run very fast. I can totally rescue you and then shoot this evil vampire dead."
Jill stood in front of Wade, spinning around and shouting tragically, "Then do it, or I will be his bride every night!"
Jade couldn't find a chance to save her, so he pulled the trigger. "Justice will surely triumph over evil. Sister, I'm sorry!"
Swoosh—
The silver arrow shot out rapidly, seemingly about to pierce through both of them.
At this dramatic moment, Wade snorted and made a grasping motion in the air. "Hmph, easy. The wind will protect its master."
Nathan rolled up the script and pondered, "This is a sure-hit arrow imbued with the magic of fate. To touch it is to die; it is unavoidable."
Wade's eyes widened, and he screamed, "No—!"
He grabbed the silver arrow, hugged Jill, spun around twice, tucked it under their armpits, and then collapsed.
The two of them fell into an embrace, completely motionless.
"Pfft—"
"Hahahaha!"
Enthusiastic applause and laughter erupted in the classroom.
Below the stage, Sierra shook her head while laughing. "Wonderful! Although it completely deviated from the premise, your improvisation was excellent!"
Wade, Jade, and Jill bowed on stage and walked back to their seats amidst the commotion.
Just then, at the classroom door, Shetty, dressed in a business suit, flashed past and beckoned to Sierra on the podium.
Wade's hypersensitive hearing quietly extended, and faint whispers reached his ears: "We're arranging a private recruitment fair tomorrow... headquarters has issued instructions. They will send someone over to inspect and interview."
"Only senior boys from the School of Performing Arts... height must be over 1.8 meters... list the eligible candidates as soon as possible, and remember to keep it confidential."
Wade sat back in the back row calmly, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the desk. "Are they selecting new members for The Seven? No power requirements? Or am I overthinking it?"
In the hallway, Sierra finished her conversation with Shetty and returned to the classroom.
The phone in Wade's bag vibrated. He opened it and found an invitation message from Dr. Bruce of "Sage Grove": [New containment measures need testing. Please come over when you're free.]
After reading it, he immediately deleted the message.
As for the inside story of the "Sage Grove" lab, Wade felt there was no need for malicious speculation or exposure.
Shetty had said the lab was established to study and treat Supes with mental abnormalities and out-of-control powers. Ignoring them would cause even greater harm to others.
Just like Sam, who showed typical symptoms of hallucinations, mania, and depression. If it weren't for Luke and the others taking turns watching him and making sure he took his medicine on time, they really wouldn't be able to keep an eye on him.
Wade felt it was quite reasonable. A normal psychiatric hospital wouldn't have the conditions to detain them. If abnormal Supe students escaped, they would definitely be sent to a Supe prison by Vought, and their fate would be even worse.
He had personally interacted with and sensed those people; their thoughts were a jumbled mess, filled with all sorts of creepy screams and whispers. It would be a miracle if they didn't go mad.
"I'll go check it out tonight. Could they have developed some new weapon? They even insisted I be there."
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