What was once meant to be the president’s bunker beneath the White House had been repurposed into something else.

  A classroom.

  Everyone sat at separate tables, all facing the front where Doc stood by a blackboard, humming to himself as he wrote with broad, energetic strokes.

  Behind him floated a massive sphere, black as night and crackling with an electric-white aura. The air around it shimmered with tension, as if the thing were alive.

  Robin leaned toward Hellena,

  “What are we doing here?” she whispered.

  “You’re about to go to college, right?” Hellena replied while idly fiddling with her Thinker

  “I talked my way around it and convinced Doc to tutor you. Then he invited everyone else.”

  “Wouldn’t he be suspicious?” Robin asked, brows furrowing.

  “He’s just happy to be teaching,” Hellena shrugged, brushing the concern aside.

  That was enough for Robin. She leaned back into her seat and noticed Regina besides her. She look poised and composed, the picture of an honor student. When Regina noticed Robin looking, she offered a warm, gentle smile.

  Robin immediately looked away, snapping her attention to Major seated in front of her.

  Regina huffed, offended.

  Major was hunched over his desk, scribbling a chaotic mess of lines Robin couldn’t make sense of, like a child’s doodle.

  And then there was Hugh beside him.

  Loud chewing. No gum in sight.

  He wasn’t actually chewing anything, just making the noise, clearly irritated that he wasn’t the one teaching.

  “Ahem!” Doc cleared his throat, loud enough to snap them out of their distractions.

  “Welcome, comrades. Or should I say, students?” His voice carried an odd note of glee.

  But no one shared his enthusiasm.

  “First, I would like to thank our dear comrade Hellena for suggesting this brilliant idea,” he continued. “A class to educate us about the new world.”

  He paced back and forth, dusting off his tracksuit. “I’m sure all of you have struggled with the strange world and cultures of this new era. I know I have.”

  Then he turned back to the blackboard.

  “So, without further ado… today’s lesson: Introduction to Aether.”

  He pointed toward the massive dark sphere floating behind him—the Aether

  “Aether,” he began, “is a form of cosmic energy that exists in everything, living and non-living alike. It is the purest form of existence… reality itself.”

  He spun around, eyes gleaming. “Now, if one were to truly control Aether…” He paused, letting the silence stretch, savoring the tension.

  “They could command reality itself… becoming a god!” Doc declared, throwing his hands into the air.

  The room didn’t react, still failing to match his enthusiasm.

  “Ahem.” He adjusted his stance.

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First, we need to explore the history of Aether.”

  “Aether was first discovered in 1975 by the brilliant researcher Dr. Sarah Kingsley.” He began writing notes across the blackboard. “Her genius led her to uncover a method to break down any object into Dark Aether

  Doc walked toward the sphere and tapped it firmly. Energy crackled between his fingertips as he made contact, a small amount of it drawn into him.

  “Because of its distilled nature, Dark Aether can be forged into anything—gold, diamonds, even entirely new elements. The only limits are one’s imagination and ability. For example, Dr. Kingsley herself could reduce objects into Dark Aether, but she could not reshape it.”

  “But in 1980,” he continued, “she finally found the solution.”

  He turned sharply, eyes wide.

  “She found a man called Victory.

  Doc spread his arms dramatically. “Revelation!”

  But the class still offered no reaction to his theatrics.

  Doc continue without complaint.

  “Victory and Dr. Kingsley worked together to develop methods of harnessing Dark Aether. They called these methods the Matrixes, techniques used to process Dark Aether into a more refined state

  He gestured toward Regina and Hugh as they stepped forward to present.

  “The Transfiguration Matrixgreen Aether

  Regina placed her hand on the floor. Green energy pulsed between her fingertips before flowing into the ground beneath her. Slowly, the solid tile softened into clay. From it, a figure began to rise, seamlessly shaping itself from the altered material.

  She stepped back, allowing the newly sculpted human statue to stand tall.

  “Comrade Regina has just transfigured the floor beneath our feet, molding a simple flat surface into the statue you see before you,” Doc explained.

  He moved aside and pointed to Hugh.

  “Now, the Red AetherTransmutation Matrix,

  Hugh’s arm sparked violently with red light. In a blinding flash, it transformed into roaring blue lightning. He thrust his arm forward, launching the thunderbolt at the statue.

  BOOM!

  Hugh crossed his arms, visibly pleased.

  “By transmuting the air around him into a different substance, Comrade Hugh is able to create lightning from the palm of his hand,” Doc said, his tone calm and instructional.

  “These two Matrixes alone have become the backbone of many nations’ development,” Doc continued.

  “Dr. Kingsley was generous in sharing her research with the world, paving the way for Matrixes to be integrated in construction, medicine, food production, and much more.”

  “But of course, not everything is so easy.” Doc went on.

  “The use of matrix is strictly supervised—most individuals aren't allowed to wield it. That's when Holder are introduced, the licensed aether users.”

  “Think of it like being a licensed doctor. But do not be misinformed, it's still harder to become a trained medical professional than a holder.” he clarified defensively.

  “Moving on. Dr. Kingsley spent the rest of her life ensuring that all production of Dark Aether remained tightly monitored. Even today, very few people are capable of creating it. But this scarcity allowed Dark Aether to be a powerful new form of currency—Aether Money, as it came to be called. Utopia is one of many places that adopted this system.”

  “But enough of the economics,” Doc said, waving a hand dismissively. “There is still much more to learn about the Matrix.”

  “In 1985, Dr. Sarah Kingsley sadly passed away due to health complications,” he said, his voice lowering.

  “But that was not the end of her legacy,” Doc added, raising a finger with a grin. “Others continued her great work.”

  “As Matrix usage became conventional, Aether research expanded rapidly, allowing three additional Matrixes to be developed. Very exciting, da? Let us continue.”

  “One of the newer Matrixes is the Translocation Matrix,

  Blue energy

  “I’m surprised it’s not red,” Hellena whispered.

  Robin shook her head, smiling faintly.

  Snap!

  In the blink of an eye, he reappeared four meters away, standing beside the shattered remains of the statue.

  “By translocating the space surrounding me,” Doc explained, “I can instantly move anywhere within a limited area.”

  Without missing a beat, Doc moved on. He extended his hand toward the shattered remains of the statue, holding it just above the debris.

  “Now for the Temporalization Matrix,

  Soft yellow Aether

  Then the fragments began to move.

  Not naturally—but in reverse.

  Shards lifted from the floor, drifting back into place, reconnecting piece by piece until the statue stood whole once more.

  Doc stepped back, admiring the restored figure. “By reversing time within a controlled space, I return the statue to its previous state.”

  Robin gasped,

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  she concluded.

  At that moment she realized, distantly, that she was far more invested in the lesson than she expected.

  Doc brushed dust from his coat and straightened. “Now… for the final Matrix.”

  His voice lowered. “Totalization. The act of combining two different Aethers together,

  Blue energy surged through his left arm—Translocation. Green light pulsed through his right—Transfiguration. He brought his hands together, merging the forces.

  A beautiful teal glow

  Doc extended his hand toward the statue.

  Its fingers twitched.

  Then its head turned.

  With eerie fluidity, the statue began to move, spinning gracefully like a ballerina, gliding across the floor until it stopped in front of Robin.

  It extended its arm, its marble palm opening to reveal a tiny seed.

  Yellow and red Aether—Temporalization and Transmutation—flickered around it. The colors fused into a radiant amber.

  From the tiny seed, a single rose bloomed.

  Warm. Vivid. Alive.

  Silently, the statue offered it to her.

  Robin hesitated, then reached out and took the rose.

  The instant her fingers brushed its stem, the light drained from the statue. Cracks spread across its surface, and piece by piece, it collapsed into fine dust.

  “And scene!” Doc declared with a dramatic flourish,

  “Now then, comrades… do you have any questions?”

  Robin paused. “Is that it? What about combining three Matrixes? Or even four?”

  Doc chuckled, clearly pleased by her curiosity. “Ah, ambitious, aren’t you, comrade?”

  He adjusted his coat, his expression turning thoughtful. “It is possible. However, the odds of success are extremely low, and the amount of Aether required makes it incredibly impractical for common use.”

  Robin frowned, disappointed.

  Doc’s smirk returned, his eyes glinting with excitement.

  “Although… there have been whispers. Rare cases of individuals successfully combining more than a million Aethers at once.”

  “What?” Robin’s eyebrows knit together.

  “But you just said three was impossible. How does that make sense?”

  Doc smiled wider, pleased she was paying attention.“Ask yourself that question, comrade. After all…”

  He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

  “…you’ve already done it.”

  Robin blinked. “But I didn’t even know what Aether was until today.”

  “Instinct, comrade,” Doc replied simply.

  “Think back to the day of our heist. What types of Aether did you see? Was there any color I failed to mention?”

  She thought hard, replaying the chaotic flashes of that night.

  “I think Robert Judd used Red Aether… and there was this light...” She hesitated.

  “It looked like Aether, but… it was white. Is there a White Aether?”

  Doc’s eyes lit up. “Excellent observation, comrade. There is indeed a White Aether

  He turned to the blackboard, sketching circles and intersecting lines as he spoke.

  “And it is known as the greatest Matrix of them all. The Ultimate Totalization

  “So far, humanity has only developed a handful of Aether types—and even then, we’ve only managed to totalize two at once,” Doc said.

  “But Ultimate Totalization…” He paused, letting the weight of it settle.

  “…is the combination of all known Aethers, along with countless of undiscovered ones

  *There’s more Aether?* Robin thought, stunned.

  “Naturally, one might assume that mastering Ultimate Totalization would grant access to the lesser Matrixes,” Doc continued, pacing slowly.

  “But that is not the case. Those must still be learned and practiced. That is why you were able to use it without any formal understanding of the Matrixes or aether”

  He stopped in front of her.

  “Ultimate Totalization is tied exclusively to one instinct

  Robin could only breath, her mind struggling to keep up.

  Doc stepped closer, his tone softening.

  “It cannot be learned. That is why Ultimate Totalization is referred to as a Gift

  “Inheritors

  Doc’s playful demeanor faded, replaced by the gravity of a teacher revealing something sacred.

  “Each Inheritor’s gift manifests uniquely, with abilities entirely their own. Some believe it reflects the Inheritor’s willpower—or perhaps their very soul. But the true reason…” He smiled faintly.

  “…remains a mystery.”

  “No one—neither Holders nor other Inheritors—can use someone else’s gift,” Doc continued.

  “Only Inheritor who possesses it can wield it.”

  He spread his arms proudly.

  “My gift is mastery over life and death. As the world’s greatest surgeon, I manipulate biology down to reality itself.

  “Observe.”

  Boop.

  She blinked, “What was that?”

  “I gave you a brain tumor,” Doc said casually, as if commenting on the weather.

  Robin’s breath caught instantly in her throat.

  Boop.

  “And now I’ve cured it.”

  He smiled, pleased with himself.

  “Isn’t my gift amazing, comrade?”

  Robin didn’t think so. She was still in complete disbelief over the fact that she had just had a tumor. She rubbed her forehead, reeling from the shock.

  “You need to stop doing that. You’re making us Inheritors look bad,” Regina said sharply, stepping in. Her glare could have cut glass.

  “Do not worry, comrade!” Doc raised his hands in mock surrender. “Not all Inheritor gifts are as dramatic as mine. Some are quite boring, like our comrade Regina’s.”

  Regina shot him a side-eye that could have melted steel.

  Doc cleared his throat and took a step back. “I will… let you explain.”

  With a resigned sigh, Regina raised her palm.

  “I can create a golden construct out of nothing.

  White Aether shimmered around her fingers, and a perfect golden flower bloomed in her hand.

  “Beautiful. Practical. Indestructible,” she said evenly. “Nothing in existence, not even a gift can undo its beauty.”

  She handed it toward Robin, a quiet, almost defiant pride in her posture.

  Robin started to reach for it, then hesitated. She wasn’t about to take anything from her again.

  Regina’s smile faltered, the rejection stinging more than she expected.

  “Indestructible?” Hugh scoffed, eyeing the flower with open disdain. “I could crush that in my sleep.”

  Before anyone could stop him, he snatched it from Regina’s hand and tried to bend the stem with his massive arm.

  Nothing happened.

  Regina’s smirk returned. “Try harder.”

  Hugh’s shoulders tensed, his face reddening with effort.

  Major leaned in, eyes twinkling. “Try biting it.”

  “Shut up,” Hugh groaned, still straining uselessly.

  Doc turned toward Hellena. “Comrade! Would you care to explain your gift to us?”

  Hellena didn’t even look up from her Thinker. “Mm. Sure,” she replied flatly, clearly ignoring him.

  Krov leaned closer to Robin, lowering his voice conspiratorially.

  “I may have an idea how her gift operates.”

  Before Robin could ask, Krov suddenly pulled a sawed-off shotgun from inside his tracksuit and calmly loaded it with shells.

  Krov stepped up to Hellena and pressed the barrel firmly against her forehead.

  Hellena finally looked up, radiating pure disdain.

  “Hasta la vista, baby,” Doc intoned, his voice dropping into something grim and theatrical.

  Click.

  Empty.

  Click-click.

  Still empty.

  “Do you see that? No bullets. Curious, da?” Doc grinned as he flipped the chambers open.

  Robin sucked in a sharp breath. “Where did they—?”

  “No one knows!” Doc declared gleefully.

  “As I predicted, Comrade Hellena’s gift is absolute dominion over all form of technology. She rewrote the gun’s history itself, erasing the bullets from existence!”

  Without hesitation, he snapped the shotgun shut and reloaded it again, eyes alight with manic curiosity.

  “Inheritors are gods, comrades! Reality itself—”

  BOOM.

  “Ah. This time, she let it fire,” Doc stared calmly at the smoldering stump where his hand had been.“but altered the payload.”

  Charred flesh began knitting itself back together, bone reforming, skin sealing over muscle until his hand was whole again.

  “Fascinating,” he observed mildly,

  “Next time, it’ll be your head,” Hellena threatened.

  Doc only grinned wider.

  Robin looked down at her own hands. “So… I have a gift too? How do I use it? ”

  Doc placed his newly restored hand on her shoulder.

  “That is for you to discover, comrade. Only you can know its true nature.”

  “Or,” Hellena interjected “you could just look it up on the AetherNet. Your gift is copying people. But you need information about whatever you’re copying first before you can use it.”

  “You can do that too.” Doc chuckled,

  _________________________________

  Robin learned everything she could to prepare for Kingsley Academy. Days turned into weeks, and soon the new semester had finally begun.

  She stood before the mirror, studying her new uniform. The beige jacket fit her shoulders perfectly. Beneath it, a crisp white collar framed a small gold pendant shaped like a “V,” the academy’s insignia gleaming at her throat. Her gaze drifted down to the dark shorts, secured with a thin gold belt. Dark leggings hugged her legs beneath them, like quiet armor.

  “How do I look?” Robin asked, turning toward Hellena, who was sprawled across her bed.

  “Like a nerd,” Hellena replied flatly, not even looking up from her screen.

  Robin chuckled as she adjusted her jacket. “Knowing you, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  Hellena raised an eyebrow. “You’re quick to pick up on people’s habits.” She smirked. “You excited to start classes?”

  Robin’s smile faltered. “I don’t know if I’m ready. I still can’t wrap my head around this whole superhero thing. I’m a nobody—won’t I stand out?”

  Hellena stretched lazily. “That’s just cold feet talking. Heroes are either celebrities in costumes or glorified mercenaries for countries with money. Keep your head down and you’ll be fine.”

  Robin exhaled softly. “I guess that explains why Robert Judd is so… disappointing, even with all his experience.”

  Hellena grinned. “Exactly. The guy lives off his war stories and was a creep with his students. But we should atleast thank him. Our failed heist helped let us creat a recommendation letter to named you as his secret apprentice.”

  Robin hesitated. “ Are you sure it wouldn’t that draw any attention to me?”

  Hellena crossed her arms. “It’s for the best, trust me. Nepotism is how the academy works. No one’s gonna question how a rookie got into the most prestigious place in Utopia.”

  Robin raised an eyebrow. “You really have it all figured out, don’t you?”

  Hellena smirked, sitting up a little straighter. “Someone has to be the brains.”

  “Thank you for doing this for me,” Robin lips curved into a small smile, warmth slipping into her voice.

  Hellena waved it off, clearly uncomfortable with the sincerity. “Ugh, whatever. Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

  Robin chuckled, “Right. I should go.”

  She slung a bag over her shoulder and tapped the Thinker on her wrist. “Dolly, can you take me there now?”

  “Request accepted. Opening portal to Kingsley Academy,” Dolly replied, her voice accompanied by a mechanical hum.

  A white portal shimmered open in the center of the room. Robin gave Hellena a small wave before stepping through.

  Hellena returned it, a reluctant smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

  Robin vanished into the light. Hellena lingered, staring at the empty space for a moment before sighing, half-amused by Robin’s earnestness.

  Turning away, she headed for the door. Just as her hand reached the handle, it swung open—and Regina stood there, poised as if she’d been waiting all along.

  Hellena raised an eyebrow. “Were you eavesdropping?”

  Regina’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “I was…observing.”

  Hellena didn’t buy it. “Uh-huh. What’s your deal?”

  Regina stepped inside, her heels clicking against the floor. “I was hoping to speak with Robin.” Her gaze flicked to the now-empty room. “But it seems I’m a little late to the party.”

  ------

  “Where is she?” Regina pressed

  Hellena leaned casually against the doorframe. “Why do you care?”

  Regina sighed, the sound heavier than intended. “I’m worried. I don’t know what’s going on in her head.”

  “Oh.” Hellena blinked, caught off guard by the honesty. “I din’t think you cared.”

  “I tried to,” Regina replied without hesitation, her voice steady. “She’s not doing anything dangerous, is she?”

  “No. Of course not.” Hellena’s gaze flicked away a beat too quickly. “She’ll be fine.”

  Regina studied her, eyes narrowing slightly, but she didn’t press. “I’m not accusing you of anything. But please— try not to get into trouble.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Hellena said evenly, though a quiet, gnawing worry twisted in her gut.

  Regina’s lips curved into a faint smile, her voice softening as a rare vulnerability slipped through her composure. “I trust you, Hellena. Please keep an eye on her for me.”

  As Regina turned and walked away, Hellena let out a soft, nearly imperceptible sigh. She pushed off the doorframe and headed back toward her room, muttering under her breath, “You better not get into trouble.”

  _________________________________

  The morning sun rested warmly on Robin’s shoulders as she stepped onto the academy grounds. Before her, the sheer scale of the building demanded attention—a towering monument of cream stone and shimmering gold. Her gaze traveled upward along crisp vertical lines that ended in stylized metallic flourishes against a brilliant blue sky.

  The grounds were immaculately maintained by robots, working nonstop to sharpen the hedges’ edges and keep the reflecting pool in the foreground perfectly clear.

  She walked toward the grand central staircase, passing two stoic statues that stood guard like silent sentinels. Vast windows flanking the entrance gleamed with reflective gold, mirroring the sky above. A small sign above the polished brass doors read Kingsley Academy—a subtle detail amid the grandeur.

  It felt less like a campus and more like an art project, a breathtaking example of Art Deco brought to life.

  Robin made her way to the designated lecture hall, arriving a full ten minutes before class was set to begin. The vast space felt almost empty. Only fifteen students had been accepted into this semester’s Hero Program, leaving the room far quieter than it should have been.

  Most students sat in small clusters, chatting among themselves, but Robin’s gaze swept the room until it found what she was looking for.

  Nikolai sat at the very front, his head slumped forward on the desk. Beside him, Eugene sat perfectly upright, as if posing for a photograph.

  Robin straightened her posture and walked toward them, determined but not eager.

  “Hey,” she greeted brightly.

  At the sound of her voice, Nikolai stirred. His tired eyes widened in surprise, and he jolted upright, as if waking from a nap.

  “You?!” He blinked several times, as if making sure she wasn’t an illusion. “What—what are you doing here?”Robin smiled, relieved that he still recognized her.“ For the Hero Program, of course. Robin Richie. Nice to meet you.” She extended a hand, keeping the gesture casual

  He clasped her hand in a firm shake.

  “Nikolai. Just Nikolai.”

  Robin’s smile widened. Easier than expected

  She turned to Eugene, her expression still friendly but more guarded. He met her gaze but his face remain unreadable.

  “Eugene Kim,” he said, his voice steady, carrying an unmistakable air of confidence and authority. He didn’t offer his hand—no surprise there.

  Robin’s kept her expression polite, carefully neutral, hiding the surge of emotion beneath. She knew that face. The face that had put a bullet in her leg.