Theo is sitting on the bed, now joined Team Aureole. He is still unsure but a bit reassured. It’s now 5pm. The sun will set soon, and it’s only him and Charlie on the beds, Charlie is sleeping and snoring loudly. While Theo is on the bed, looking at the sunset, ‘’I can’t believe it. I have joined Team Aureole.’’ He talks to himself.

‘’I don’t have a choice; this is the only group that will give me hope. And if I’m there, I have to be useful. I have to get stronger so one day, I can help when others are weak. And also, save Alex.’’ He clutches his fist. ‘’But still, there’s something bothering me.’’

He remembers the dream from last night, where he was in the garden, relaxing, until it all turned to fire and 7 people showed him his fruit. It’s still fresh in Theo’s memory. Like a stain you can’t remove.

‘’What was that about?’’ He thinks to himself. His thoughts are racing, ‘’How can I calm down about it?’’ He then realizes something, he grabs a paper and a pen, and starts writing, about The Fruit. He is about to start the first description until Sage blasts in the room, the door breaking down, ‘’Theo, is in the group, yo, Theo is in the group, yo, Put your hands in the air because Theo’s in the group, yo!’’

Theo is shocked and confused at the sight of Sage rapping and dancing about his entrance, ‘’What is he doing?’’ He thinks to himself.

Sage continues singing, ‘’I can’t help but think about all the things will do, whether stupid or luxurious, there will be two. And every time, I see his face. I see a laughable smirk, because— ‘’

‘’Shut up!’’ Charlie shouts, growling with anger. ‘’Your lyrics are trash and you are borderline annoying, leave my sight. I wanna sleep!’’

‘’But Theo is in the group…yo?’’ Sage asks, putting the microphone down.

Theo looks at the both of them, dumbfounded. He smiles, ‘’This takes me back, well, before my mother and father divorced and took the other children.’’ He thinks.

Chloe enters the room, holding a tray of fries and beef. She smiles but when she sees the mess caused by Sage, she shouts, ‘’Sage. What did I tell you about destroying the door?’’

‘’This door? I don’t remember you saying anything, girl.’’ Sage flips the microphone to his back. Chloe’s eye twitches, but she sighs, and talks, her jaw clenched. ‘’Next time, I’m gonna tell James about this.’’

‘’Do you know he’s dating 3 girls?’’ Sage asks, realizing something. ‘’I don’t care, it’s not important anyway.’’ Chloe puts the tray next to Theo.

‘’He’s dating 3 girls? Wow, do they make out.’’ Charlie chuckles, ‘’Probably? After all, James likes locking his dorm when it reaches 8 pm.’’ Sage says. ‘’James dated Chloe once.’’ Charlie shouts, ‘’I know right. She was even smiling the whole time!’’ Sage pats Charlie’s back.

Chloe puts the juice cup to Theo, trying to ignore what the others are saying, her jaw clenched.

‘’Hey, Chloe. Is what they are saying true?’’ Theo asks, his voice weak. Chloe looks at him, blinking, ‘’Uh, no. It’s a rumor that spread after Team Aureole got popular.’’

‘’Rumor…’’ Theo thinks. ‘’Wait, they gossip about you guys like celebrities?’’ Charlie sighs painfully, ‘’Yes. I hate it.’’

‘’Hey, Chloe. I know I said this before but thank you for everything you’ve done. Making food, comforting me, you made me feel at home you know that?’’ Theo smiles.

‘’Aw, it’s nothing.’’ Chloe says coyly.

‘’No, really. No one has ever done that for me.’’ Theo says. Chloe smiles, her voice turns dark ‘’You’re welcome. But…when we are on the training grounds and start combat training, just know. We are not friends there.’’

Theo is confused, ‘’Wait, What?’’

Chloe walks away and waves at him, ‘’Bye, Bye, Theo Anderson!’’ Resorting to her normal tone.

‘’Wait, It’s important! Do you know anything about the 7 shadows appearing in a dream offering a fruit and saying the time has come!’’ Theo shouts, gesturing at her not to leave. Chloe freezes, ‘’Wait a minute. You had the dream of the fruit too?’’

‘’Wait. That’s what it’s called?’’ Theo is shocked. ‘’Yeah, it happens after you get an acceptance letter to Aureole. I tried talking to the others about this but they wouldn’t understand. Which means…we only experienced this…the two of us.’’ Chloe gasps, putting a hand over her mouth, ‘’Wait. Does it mean we are meant to be— ‘’

‘’No, it’s not.’’ James says, walking in, sighing, ‘’It happened to all of us, not everyone has a good memory. The Dream of Fruit has been happening to many of us, I still don’t know what it means. But probably, it’s about Aureole, indeed.’’ James says sternly.

Chloe blushes, ‘’Alright, I overthought.’’

‘’Hey, sugar daddy. Where are your 3 girls?!’’ Charlie shouts, smirking. James stares at him, coldly.

‘’You don’t want to get your bones broken, again do you?’’ He asks, his voice dark. Charlie looks at him, ‘’Looking for a fight headma— ‘’ Sage blocks his mouth, ‘’No, no, no. We get it. It’s a rumor. Totally a rumor made by an incredibly naïve person.’’

‘’Get your crappy fingers off of me, dammit!’’ Charlie shouts, muffled. Theo looks at the both of them, chuckling. Chloe walks to him, ‘’This is Team Aureole. We’re kinda dysfunctional, I guess.’’ Theo laughs, ‘’Like a sitcom, right?’’

‘’I guess. I bet you will fit right in.’’ Chloe smiles.

Suddenly there’s a knock on the door. They all turn around, confused. ‘’Uh…who ordered porridge?’’ Charlie asks, muffled. ‘’You mean pizza?’’ Sage corrects him, ‘’Yeah. Porri-I mean pizza!’’ Charlie shouts muffled, ‘’I’m gonna burn your fingers off if you don’t let go of my mouth!’’

‘’You can’t, I’m iron.’’ Sage chuckles at him.

James opens the door, ‘’Come in.’’ A tall girl walks in, wearing a uniform, headphones and pink hair. ‘’Oh, James cutie. You’re here?’’ The girl asks, speaking in a soft voice.

‘’Oh, I…’’ James clears his throat, ‘’Meet Stella Vane. She’s one of the seniors at Aureole. I don’t know what she’s doing here though.’’ James blushes lightly.

Sage and Charlie both look up shocked, Charlie burns Sage’s fingers, ‘’You see, I told you!’’

‘’Not gonna work, bud.’’ Sage shakes his head, as his fingers are already in metal form.

Stella walks in, ‘’I’ve come to announce that the Phoenix Exam is delayed to 1 month. Due to a disturbance.’’

They all gasp, ‘’What? Why?’’ Chloe asks shocked. Stella pulls out her phone, scrolling down, ‘’Because something different and monstrous has appeared in the senior room.’’

She shows the picture to everyone, a glitched picture of something like a gigantic dog with red eyes, they all gasp. ‘’We don’t know what it is. But it has destroyed the Phoenix Key, and we have to work on it again.’’

‘’Wait, it got destroyed?!’’ Sage asks, shocked. ‘’How can it get destroyed?!’’ Charlie shouts.

‘’Who would do such a thing?’’ Chloe asks. Theo thinks, ‘’Is it…wait. Don’t tell me…. has Alex made a move? How? Is it because of my hair?’’

Behind her, James is clenching his fists in anger, thinking, ‘’Little brother. What are you planning?!’’

Meanwhile in their neon-soaked hiding place, surrounded by red mist, rotating platforms and numerous gates opening and closing. Alex sits in the corner, in the darkest place possible. With his white suite, white eyes, and white boots, shining. He looks down, ‘’Well done, I.’’

He pats I, making him growl, ‘’We are now making moves.’’ Alex pulls out Theo’s strands of hair, some of which are in reagent bottles, blue liquid surrounding it.

‘’With this hair, I can finally see what’s going on in the school. Soon, James and Team Aureole will have nowhere to hide. And finally, I can destroy everything this school keeps its lies in.’’ Alex monologues, his voice ominous, ‘’Soon Team Aureole will have nowhere to hide. And I will finally leave this school. Isn’t that right, older brother?’’ Alex looks up, laughing evilly. The red mist increasing.

Shade and Roy are in the basement, injured. ‘’That group packed a punch, ey Roy?’’ Shade asks, putting a white cloth on his arm. ‘’Because you never planned, nicely. Even if you died, I wouldn’t care.’’

‘’Hey, why so cynical, man?’’ Shade asks, Roy looks at him, ‘’Because I’m detecting malice somewhere. I wonder if someone who doesn’t belong here has arrived.’’

‘’Really, that’s impossible. Because even if they come here, they won’t manage to land a strike.’’ Shade grins.

‘’Alex!’’

The 3 all turn around, confused. They then see Vesper flying in with her shadows, ‘’You will pay for what you’ve done!’’

They all look shocked, but smirk.

‘’Oh, big bro. Please don’t tell me you sent one of your useless minions here. Your brainwashed rats?’’ Alex laughs darkly.

Vesper is about to swing her shadows but a gate closes in front of her. She looks horrified, ‘’What are these?!’’

A platform appears and swings her away, she screams in pain. Alex smirks, ‘’Soon, I will be invincible.’’