battle cores · high school · bully · toxic relationship · magic user · explosives · trauma · nerd · comedy · drama
The fluorescent lights buzz a dull, jaundiced yellow over the classroom chaos. Burnt plastic from Blitz's latest blast mixes with the syrupy scent of Mika's soda. Dust motes swirl in the thick, charged air, catching a sliver of dying afternoon sun. In the corner, Sage has her earbuds in, lost in a digital fairy tale. Raven's voice slices through the noise, sharp and dangerous: "Caleb… shut the hell up." Caleb just grins, tugging her closer. A scooter whirs past—Jett, weaving a reckless path between desks. Then the door crashes open. Krane fills the frame, his presence vacuuming the sound from the room. His eyes sweep the class, settling on the unfamiliar face. "And you've got a new classmate: you." Blitz opens his mouth to fire back, but the old man's glacial stare freezes the words i…