It had been days since the incident with Captain Kinga. Four days in the ER. Four days of bandages, blurred lights, and whispered warnings. And now… I was finally back at Shalu Academy. Today wasn't just any day. This was the reason I came here: Flow Engineering. The path of creators, the inventors who bent the elements and reshaped the world. People like Zachary Adebayo—the pioneer of the lava-diving suit, whose molten armor made it possible to explore the blazing depths of the lost continent. I wanted that thrill. To build something that mattered.
The brick façade of Flow Engineering Hall looked threadbare under creeping ivy. Dust motes drifted in golden slants of morning sun. The hallway smelled of mildew and old paper, as if ideas from centuries past lingered in the air. Yet I couldn't help but smile. This was the beginning.
"10:15… lecturer should be here soon," I murmured, scanning the desks scarred with initials and half-finished flow glyphs.
"Yo—Joseph?!" A familiar voice echoed. Hadal slid into the seat beside me, cheeks flushed with excitement. "Man, I didn't know you picked this course too! At least I won't suffer alone."
I chuckled. With him here, the unknown felt a little less daunting.
The room fell silent as the door swung open. A man in a stained lab coat, wrinkled shirt, and unkempt beard stepped in, his eyes sharp as chisels. "Good," he said. "You know how to be quiet. Since you aren't flow users, don't expect special treatment. Learn that now." He nodded toward the side door. "We also have a temporary assistant joining us. You may come in."
She entered as if the sunlight followed her. Dark hair fell across brown skin that glowed from within. And her eyes—deep violet pools that held a storm. Unnerving, magnetic.
"S-She's beautiful…" Hadal whispered.
Murmurs rippled through the class. The professor cleared his throat. "As you all know, this is Rose Mensah. Third child of the Mensah household. Show respect."
I leaned toward Hadal. "What's the Mensah household?"
His eyes widened. "They're one of the greater households in Africa. They control the entirety of Ghana."
I froze. Rose stood mere steps away, silent and imposing. My heart thundered.
"I'm a flow user," she added softly, but her voice carried undeniable power. Her violet eyes locked onto mine, deliberate and assessing. Then she spoke again, her tone coldly confident: "The challenger of fate has been born."
A chill ran through me. "…What?" But she had already turned away. "I'll take a seat now, sir."
"Alright," the professor said, clapping his hands. A holographic projection flickered above the desks:
Task: Basic Combat Armour
Passing Requirement: 100 HP
Failing Grade: None
"We're doing practical work today," he announced. "Follow me."
The lab smelled of metal and disinfectant. Each station held an empty battle suit and a low-grade green flow crystal shimmering faintly.
"You get one suit. One crystal. Make it work," the professor instructed.
Silence. Confusion. One student raised his hand. "If there's no failing grade… can we just leave?"
The professor sighed. "…Yes." Like that, most students filed out, footsteps echoing down the corridor until only a handful remained—me, Hadal, and a dozen empty stations.
I glanced at Hadal. He wasn't working. His eyes were fixed on Rose. Of course he was. I exhaled. Focus.
I set to work. The armor's plates felt hollow and brittle. The crystal's glow was weak, capable only of a trickle of energy. Alone, it could barely boost HP to the passing mark. If the crystal couldn't be improved, then the armor would have to compensate.
I reinforced its internal frame with micro-alloy folds, filling hidden cavities. I compressed joints, sealed weak points, and aligned metal fibers into near-perfect symmetry. No wasted space. Pure efficiency.
Time slipped by to the scrape of tools and the hum of concentration. Then I stood. "Professor, I'm done."
He raised an eyebrow. "Already?" He placed the armor in the evaluation chamber. DING! DING!
Overview—Name: Basic Combat Armour
Attributes: 130/130
Trait: Sturdy—Reduces damage taken by 30%
The professor's stern mask cracked into a rare smile. "Well done." Then, louder, "WELL DONE!" His hand slammed onto my shoulder, jolting me. "Not only did you exceed the requirement—you created a trait!"
A wave of pride washed over me. Rose stepped closer. "This would perform well in combat training," she said, her voice calm but carrying undeniable authority.
I stiffened under her gaze. "Th-thank you…"
My chance. I began to speak—"Miss, earlier you said—"
BOOM.
The lab door exploded inward with a thunderous crash. Metal panels rattled as everyone spun toward the sound. Heavy footsteps pounded the floor. Through the smoke and broken glass, a figure loomed.
Captain Kinga.
Her face was a mask of fury. "There you are," she growled. "You think you're tough? Outside your territory… you're nothing." Her words cut into the stunned silence.
My chest tightened. So it was her—the woman from that day, the one who left scars deeper than flesh. I saw no hint of fear on Rose's face. She stretched, calm as moonlight.
"Why don't we take this outside?" Rose's eyes flared, glowing violet embers gathering in their depths. "I could use the exercise."
The room held its breath. Tension crackled like lightning. My heart thundered. Part of me trembled with fear. Another part—was done listening to stories. I wanted to see it. I wanted to see what a true flow user could do.