In Aetherion Academy of Power, a school for kids with powers—
At the backyard, a boy stood quietly.
He had well-kept black wolf-cut hair, brown eyes behind glasses, and stood at 6.5 feet tall. His uniform was neatly ironed, and at his side hung two katanas, resting calmly as if they were part of him.
Beside him stood two other boys.
The one on the left wore his uniform half-buttoned, his black hair messy, his posture careless. He stood at 6.6 feet, with a rough and arrogant look.
On the right stood another boy, also 6.5 feet tall, wearing a cardigan sweater over his uniform. His hair was styled with the left side weaved backward, leaving the right side to fall over his face. Two earrings gleamed on his left ear.
Together—
They cornered the boy with glasses.
"Look what we have here… a fresh first-year student," said the boy on the left.
"We're going to have our fun with you," said the boy on the right.
They pushed him against the school wall.
The boy on the right placed one hand on the wall above his shoulder, trapping him, while his other hand traced a line slowly along his cheek. Meanwhile, the boy on the left searched through his pockets for anything of value.
"From now on, you are to bring anything of value you have to us on this spot. As of today, you're going to be a good errand boy," the one on the right said, pointing down before giving him a light slap.
"Did you hear? Any time you don't, you get bitten," the one on the left added, punching the boy's face.
Suddenly—
A hand was placed on both their shoulders.
"Ain't you boys having fun? Do you mind me joining in?"
They turned.
A girl stood behind them.
She had chocolate-colored skin and sharp brown eyes. Her hair was styled into two packed dreadlocks—black at the edges and gold at the tips. She stood tall at 6.5 feet, her presence bold and unshaken.
She wore a boy's uniform and a cross bag. Her piercings were striking—one beneath her lower lip, three on the right side of her ear (one at the top, two at the bottom), and four on the left (two at the top, two at the bottom). One of them had a small chain with a cross at the end, while the others were pressed earrings.
Her figure was impossible to ignore.
Both boys turned fully toward her, their faces filled with anger.
"Why don't you walk along now?" said the boy on the left.
She smirked.
"What's funny? I see you want to be bitten, nah?" the boy on the left asked.
Before any of them could react—
She moved.
Her leg shot out, landing a powerful kick on the left boy's hip, sending him flying across the ground.
The boy on the right immediately rushed toward her, trying to land a punch on her face—but she dodged effortlessly and countered with a sharp uppercut.
The impact made him lose some teeth.
She stepped back slightly, creating a small distance between them.
"Fuck—you're not getting away with this!" he shouted.
Ice formed in his hands, sharp and jagged, before he sent them flying toward her.
She didn't flinch.
"Really? Is that all you got? You've got to do better than that to make me pay for those teeth," she said.
Her fists shattered the incoming ice into pieces without leaving a single wound.
In the next instant, she moved again—
Fast.
With incredible speed, she closed the gap and landed four straight punches to his face before he could even react.
He collapsed.
Unconscious.
The other boy, who had been sent flying earlier, saw everything—
And ran away.
Silence fell over the backyard.
She turned and walked toward the boy with glasses.
"Are you okay? Hope they didn't hit you or anything."
"I'm fine, thanks… that was amazing. I'm Kanji, by the way," he said.
"I'm Barbara, but I prefer being called Barb for short. Nice to meet you," she replied.
"Nice to meet you too," said Kanji.