“So, what’s your power?” I asked, leaning closer to Neila.

  He barely spared me a glance. “I’d rather not tell anyone.”

  “Why not?”

  “Personal reasons.”

  I sighed, crossing my arms. “Fine, fine. I won’t ask.”

  Before I could say anything else, a blond-haired guy ran up to me, his blue eyes gleaming with mischief. He had long eyelashes, a smirk plastered across his face, and an energy that screamed troublemaker. His reddish hair hinted at European descent, making him stand out among the students.

  “What’s up, pretty lady?” he said with a wink.

  I smirked. “You won’t be able to woo me that easily, but I applaud your confidence. So, what’s your name?”

  He placed a hand over his chest dramatically. “My name? Nagumo. Remember it.”

  His bright and cheery smile reminded me of a salesman trying to push a faulty product.

  Nagumo then turned his attention to Neila, his smirk widening. “So, Mr. Mysterious, what’s your power?”

  Neila’s expression remained unchanged. “It’s personal.”

  Nagumo clicked his tongue. “C’mon, don’t be shy. I betcha I can force it out of ya.”

  The air shifted.

  Neila’s eyes glowed bright purple as he slowly looked down at Nagumo.

  “Try me, and I’ll beat your ass.”

  Nagumo took a step back, holding up his hands. “Whoa, whoa, Mr. Edge-lord, tone down the killing intent just a teensy bit, please?”

  Before Neila could respond, a loud, piercing sound rang through the air.

  The school bell.

  “Everyone, sit down,” a voice called from the front of the room.

  Our teacher stood by the podium, adjusting her glasses. She was a striking woman with blonde hair curled into a neat bun. Her form-fitting blouse and skirt left little to the imagination—not that I was insecure or anything. Just… something I noticed.

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  The lesson was mostly a recap—basic ability classifications, their history, and their role in society. Stuff everyone already knew. But a refresher was never a bad thing.

  Still, my mind drifted elsewhere.

  Some time passed after

  Footsteps echoed against the concrete, swallowed by the silence of the dead night.

  Streetlamps flickered as shadowed figures followed from behind.

  The young woman walked briskly, her long black hair swaying, crimson eyes darting warily between the dimly lit streets. She wore our academy’s uniform, a lone student heading home under the veil of darkness.

  Young women should never walk alone at night.

  But she had no choice.

  A sudden movement. A hand shot out. A towel pressed against her nose and mouth.

  Her struggles weakened. Her body went limp.

  Darkness.

  When Jaclyn awoke, she was met with strong buff men, her hands were chained with steel.

  The air was filled with the smell of oil and rust. The glass at the top let out some moonlight into the warehouse.

  Each one of the men looked at her with a predatory glimmer, their eyes staring at her each with their own intent.

  She exhaled slowly, shaking her head. “You’ve got the wrong person”.

  One of them stepped forward—a tall, imposing man with a mohawk and a black jacket. He exuded arrogance, his smirk oozing overconfidence.

  “We know exactly who we kidnapped,” he said, tilting his head. “You’re an S-class. We planned this carefully.”

  A chuckle escaped her lips, dark and humorless. “And you think that’s enough?”

  The leader’s grin widened. “See, if you even flinch, my guy over here has an A-class ability that boosts his strength fivefold. Good luck surviving a hit from that.”

  Her expression didn’t change. Her crimson eyes remained unreadable, her dark hair partially covering her face.

  The leader leaned closer. “I like that look of disgust. Might have some fun before we hand you over to the boss.”

  She sighed, looking up at the ceiling. “Neila, how long are you gonna wait?”

  Panic spread among the group.

  “Shit! She has a partner! Everyone, be on alert—”

  Within an instant, blood gushed out of their noses as they immediately collapsed to the ground, their bodies slamming hard against the concrete ground.

  Limbs were twisted unnaturally and unconscious men in a shallow pool of their blood.

  The leader was the only one standing, his eyes were wide open, his entire body shaking at the thought of his own demise.

  “What the hell”!? He shrieked, his voice cracking in fear.

  A figure stepped out from the shadows.

  “Didn’t you hear her?”

  Neila’s violet eyes glowed hauntingly.

  “My name is Neila.”

  The leader tried to stand—only to be knocked out instantly.

  Jaclyn stared at the blood pooling beneath their bodies, her fingers twitching.

  The memories came back in flashes—red, red, red—but she forced herself to breathe, to remain grounded.

  Neila turned to her, his head tilting slightly. “How did you recognize me even with the mask?”

  She met his gaze, her expression unreadable. “I can see the future.”

  Neila didn’t react, waiting for her to continue.

  “Well… more specifically, I can see the future of a specific timeline. A timeline where everyone dies.”

  A plausible lie.

  A lie he believed.

  Neila studied her, his sharp gaze analyzing every word. “So you should know what my power is, then.”

  Jaclyn exhaled. “Hell no. I’ve never figured it out. I’m not a genius, but I know it has something to do with time control. I just don’t know the extent.”

  Neila remained silent. His expression didn’t change, but the tension in the air thickened.

  She watched him carefully. He doesn’t trust me yet. That’s fine. I don’t trust him either.

  The steel cuffs around her wrists groaned under pressure—then shattered as she snapped them apart effortlessly.

  Neila’s eyes flickered.

  Jaclyn dusted off her sleeves. “So… can you tell me a little more about the future?”

  She crossed her arms, leaning against the chair casually. “Humanity defeated the Demon King. But upon his death, he released his mana across the world—instantly killing anyone who didn’t have an S-rank ability and severely injuring those who did.”

  Neila’s gaze darkened.

  “Yet you survived,” she continued, watching him carefully. “With barely a scratch.”

  He narrowed his eyes.

  “Well,” she smirked, “it’s safe to say your ability isn’t just S-class. It’s something higher, isn’t it? S+? Maybe even higher than that?”

  Neila’s expression didn’t waver.

  He’s suspicious of me, she thought. Good. That means he won’t trust me easily. That means he’s smart.

  Finally, she grinned.

  “So, Mr. Neila… will you join me in saving the world?”

  A long pause.

  “…I’ll think about it.”

  She stretched, yawning dramatically. “Well, don’t take too long. The apocalypse isn’t gonna wait for you.”

  Turning toward the exit, she waved over her shoulder.

  “See you tomorrow.”