Inside the simulation pod, Kyle continued to refine his control over Frostfire as he battled the monsters around him.
His mastery over the flame and ice elements was nearly perfect, he could confidently say that much. Now, the only challenges that remained was mastering Frostfire.
It was harder than he'd expected. Since Frostfire was a fusion of flames and ice, the spells were drastically different from the ones he'd already learned.
Spells like Fireburst and Iceburst were simple, he just visualize the element and unleash the attack.
But Frostfire? That was an entirely different beast.
He couldn't decide if he should imagine the fire first or the ice first when he triggered spell like fireburst. And if he imagined both at once, how could he balance their impact?
Should he make the flames hotter and wrap them in frost? Or should he chill the fire itself, expanding the frost to amplify the effect?
Mastering Frostfire require trial after trial. Thankfully, the simulation pod allowed endless experimentation. Kyle summoned the elements repeatedly, testing combination on the monsters without risk.
Despite the physical fatigue creeping into his body, his mind remained alert -- sharper than ever. Ideas for new techniques flooded his mind, one after another.
As the final monster fell, Kyle exited the pod. He walked over to his desk and sat down, reflecting on his training session. He carefully noted everything he could improve.
Once done, he collapsed onto his bed, planning to reward himself with some well-deserved beauty sleep.
The Next Day
There were no classes or training today -- perfect timing for a trip into town. Kyle needed to buy some supplies for school.. and maybe indulge in a few sweet treats.
The town had plenty delicious food: cakes, cupcakes and his personal favourite -- sugar-coated hawthorn sticks.
He threw on his black jacket, grabbed his bad, and headed out. As he made his way through the academy grounds, passing other students en route to the teleportation gate, a strange sensation prickled the back of his neck.
Someone was watching him.
He glanced over his shoulder, scanning for familiar faces -- nothing. No one he recognized. But the eerie, nagging feeling didn't go away.
"Well, whoever it is, they'll show up eventually", he muttered, choosing optimism over paranoia.
With that, he stepped through the teleportation gate alongside the other students heading to Unixe town.
Elsewhere, in the slums of Unixe town...
A small boy, dressed in tattered, patched clothing, was running for his life.
This side of town was knows as the gray zone -- a slum that had grown in the shadow of the prestigious academy nearby. It was a gathering for the poor, the orphaned, and the desperate.
The boy darted through narrow alleys, with two men in pursuit.
He hadn't awakened his powers yet -- most kids awakened at the age of 15 -- and now the kid is only 12. The good thing of this town is they have rules that prohibited using powers within its borders,
Even if the men chasing him had abilities, using them would alert the police or other people. That would only complicate their job.
They typically lured slum kids in with promises of food or work. It worked every time.
But not this kid.
He ran -- like he already know what they were really after.
The kid didn't stick to alleyways. Instead, he headed toward the center of town, where he might blend into the crowd. The streetlights grew brighter, and hope filled his eyes.
He was slowing down -- his legs burning from running so far -- but he knew these streets well thus he managed to escape this far.
His love of wandering gave him an edge. Every turn, every shortcut , was familiar.
The light was just ahead. Safety. Freedom.
Then --
A hand seized his arm.
He hadn't realized how close they were.
His eyes went wide with terror as he struggled to break free.
"I told you to run", one of the men snarled, before slamming the kid against the wall. Pain exploded through the child's body.
"Run, huh? Go on -- run now.", the other man sneered, kicking the boy over and over. The kid curled into himself, trying to protect his head from the savage blows.
He had really believed he could escape. But now, it seemed his fate would be just like the others'.
"Enough. Don't damage the goods too much -- the client won't be happy", the man said coldly to the other, who kick the kid.
The beating stopped. The man who was stopped, spat on the boy, then dragged him forward, leaving a small trail of blood behind.
The boy's condition was dire -- broken arms, busted legs, and a dangerous amount of blood loss. But still, he fought to stay conscious, hoping -- praying -- that someone, anyone, would appear at the end of the alley to help him.
But no one came.
This part of town, was avoided by most. It was known as a den if crime, poverty and hopelessness.
"Why do they even want this kid?", the man dragging him asked.
"The client said they need kids around this age. Most of the others have already been snatched up. If we didn't grab this one, we'd miss our payday"
"You ever wonder, what they do with the kids?"
"Nah. Doesn't matter. Client didn't say and we don't ask. As long as we get paid and stay fed, that's enough"
The other man gave a twisted grin and nodded.
The boy lost consciousness soon after, no one checked if he was alive.