In a room with brown walls and a marble floor, Theo is on bed, eyes slowly opening. His eyes feel groggy, and his vision is blurry. He can only see the light bulb. His head is filled with bandages and he is wearing a cast. The memories of his fight come flooding in. ‘’Oh, That’s right. I used too much of my power.’’ He thinks, as the only sound is a fan whirring. It’s silent, almost peaceful. He closes his eyes, ‘’Mom. I don’t think I can survive in this place. I just entered and its already hell.’’

He opens his eyes, ‘’I just want to go home again.’’ Tears form in his eyes, ‘’I just want to be felt safe again. ’A small tear drops on the ground.

‘’Stop crying, newbie.’’

Theo turns around and sees Charlie, ‘’You’re awake too?’’ Charlie sighs, ‘’The others have gone on student patrol. Where they check each student and make sure they are safe. I was supposed to go, but my injuries are pretty bad.’’

Theo nods, ‘’Yeah. That fight was brutal. But I must say, you are a great fighter, Charles.’’

Charlie looks at him in disbelief, ‘’Did you just call me, Charles?’’ Theo nods, smiling, ‘’It’s a nickname I will use for you. It’s great, right?’’

‘’Whatever. I guess I’ll allow it.’’

Theo chuckles, ‘’I hope you don’t get kicked out of the group, I made sure it was a draw.’’

Charlie chuckles lightly, ‘’You want to stay in Team Aureole too, huh?’’

‘’I don’t know. I guess I don’t have a choice?’’ Theo replies, unsure. Charlie nods, ‘’I guess you don’t. There’s no way James would refuse someone like you. And besides, I think you are kind of a badass.’’

Theo is shocked, ‘’Did you just praise my strength?’’ Charlie shouts, blushing from embarrassment, ‘’No, I didn’t. I was talking to myself!’’ Theo laughs.

‘’Anyway, sorry for blasting you with a fireball. I thought I was an omnipotent being but no I’m a person with flaws, and If I continue looking down on others, I won’t see my mistakes. Thank you for helping me realize that’’ Charlie says looking at his hand and clutching it. He extends his hand to Theo, like a fist bump, ‘’Promise me you will get stronger and one day challenge me to a full on no holds barrier fight after the Phoenix Exam.’’

They both share a fist bump, ‘’I promise.’’ Theo says determined. They both share a smile.

‘’And that day, you will die.’’ Charlie says, grinning. Theo shakes his head, ‘’Nuh-huh, I required you to be in your ultimate form, so I definitely win!’’ Charlie laughs, ‘’Nope. You will drop dead and eat rocks for sure!’’

Theo laughs, ‘’Why are you laughing, it’s the truth!’’ Charlie shouts. ‘’We don’t know what the future holds.’’ Theo says, smiling.

Meanwhile on the other side of the school, deep down in the basement. It’s an area with lots of buildings and lights, with tall skyscrapers, rotating and moving platformers and multiple gates. The atmosphere feels ominous, almost overwhelming. Multiple neon lights and street lights scattered everywhere. One gate shuts down and inside high-energy jazz music plays for some reason. The tall man wearing a suite and cigarette is on the piano, playing it slowly. The notes synchronized with the gates, and the others are holding saxophones. It feels relaxing, trying to lure you in. And suddenly the tall man with the piano slides away and is already in an area with a blue background, flowers everywhere. The blue light glows, emitting in their eyes, looking unique. The tall man removes the cigarette and smashes it on the piano, exploding it. It’s revealed the cigarette is fake, just a prop.

The tall man’s suite and clothes come off and he has red demonic eyes, ‘’Why didn’t you recruit him, Shade?’’

Heavy silence lingers in the room until the person snaps their heads towards the flowers, ‘’Shade?!’’ The voice is more demonic than ever.

Shade is on the ground, panicking, ‘’No, master. You see, I— ‘’ In an instant Shade is already on the person’s face, the eyes redder, ‘’You see, what?! Tell me everything, no stammering. You know who I am.’’ The person shows their left eye which is normal, showing the name ‘Alexander.’’

Shade gasps, ‘’Should I kill you?’’ Alex asks, his voice too calm. ‘’Should I kill you?!’’

Shade refuses, ‘’No, sir. It went according to plan, except, this boy foiled our plan.’’ Alex grips his throat tight, ‘’What was his name?!’’

‘’I don’t know, sir. He was blue-haired, a bit tall, okay not that tall, but that’s all I remember from him!’’

Alex’s grip loosens and Shade drops on the ground, coughing, ‘’Whatever. He wasn’t worth chasing anyway, I already have the strongest people in my group.’’

He shrinks down back to his normal size, ‘’After all, I’m only 17. But still, that doesn’t stop me from burning this rotten school down!’’

Alex looks up, multiple gates opening, ‘’They use people for promotions, they lie to get more cash and students, and then they leave them on their own. This school should be exposed for all its rotten lies!’’

Alex blasts to a floating platform, ‘’This isn’t normal, it’s an abomination. And it should be dealt with.’’

Alex grabs his white hat and puts it on his head, ‘’I, no we. The Root Burners will deal with this.’’

The lights flash and it reveals Sharon, Henry, Ghostly, Wisp and Crane, Jin and Jun standing on platformers.

‘’Yes, master. That was our mission from the start.’’ Sharon says, crossing her arms.

‘’Oh, yes, the school should burn. Burn, baby, burn!’’ Henry shouts, swinging a large fire. Ghostly spins around, ‘’Yay, I can’t wait to annihilate every single one of them.’’

Wisp revs his motorbike, ‘’Indeed, Lord Alex.’’ Crane puts his cane down, adjusting his showman outfit, ‘’How marvelous, indeed.’’

Jin and Jun both shouts, ‘’Yes, sir!’’

Alex stands, front and center. His cape blowing due to the wind of the area, ‘’The Phoenix exam will start in 1 week. And we need to be prepared to disrupt it. But first of all.’’

Alex turns to Shade, ‘’I want to know more about this blue-haired guy, and also about Team Aureole. Then, we will make a move.’’

Shade raises a weak thumbs up. Alex already disappears and appears in front of his body, ‘’Go, spy on them. Also, take Roy along with you.’’

Roy walks to him muscular, he turns to Shade, ‘’Let’s go.’’ Shade nods.

And then the mist increases, the platformers turn and fly and the gates all shut down.