Sky stood in front of the main entrance door of the Elite Academy, a vital part of Anti-Ageing Inc.'s business structure. It was part of the security department of the company, the one that nested all future Elite soldiers until they hatched as graduates. It was a mesmerising building covered in red and green ivy all over the facade. 

The green-fringed teen stood there with a stupefied expression on his face while Anti-Ageing Inc.'s holographic ads kept hovering nearby as they enticed other pedestrians with its fantastic products.

In the nearest ad, a woman in her forties looked into the mirror in her bathroom. She looked tired and worried. A narrator's voice said, "Are you tired of looking tired? Do you wish you could turn back the clock on ageing skin? Introducing Dream Cream by Anti-Ageing Inc. The ultimate night cream for youthful, radiant skin."

The woman picked up a jar of Dream Cream and opened it.

"Packed with powerful antioxidants and natural ingredients," the narrator went on cheerfully while the woman applied the cream to her face and neck, massaging it in, "Dream Cream works while you sleep to repair and rejuvenate your skin. Wake up to visibly smoother, brighter, and firmer skin. And say goodbye to fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots."

The woman looked into the mirror again and smiled.

"Dream Cream by Anti-Ageing Inc. Because ageing gracefully doesn't mean you have to look your age."

Anti-Ageing Inc.'s logo and tagline appeared then, "Anti-Ageing Inc. Where age is just a number."

Damn these stupid ads! They're everywhere!

After another look forward, he approached the ID scanner at the door. He showed it his right palm and a red laser light scanned his ID chip. After a satisfactory blip, the scanner said, "Entry authorised. Welcome, Sky Falcon, Elite student."

Next, the doors opened for him. He took a large intake of air and entered the great hall of the Elite Academy. He was small and insignificant in comparison to the grandeur of the building.

The place was huge and solemn, made of red bricks and dark marble. The walls were adorned with gold and silver plaques, celebrating the achievements of the Academy's alumni.

Statues of great fighters from years gone by were positioned at the corners as if keeping a watchful eye over the students. One of them was Alistair Falcon.

Hello, Dad. Sky stood right in front of his father's statue. It was made in white marble, twice the size he was in real life. Melancholy made his heart ache. How's it going in the Valhalla of the Hovering Hive? Mom misses you. And so do I.

Many students passed by him. They gathered there, in the entrance hall, that morning right before the first class of the day. Their voices echoed loudly between those thick walls.

When Sky turned to head for class, he saw his former friends chatting merrily among themselves.

Hazel was among them. Her dreamy sight stopped time. Sky's heart raced as he spotted her giggling with a friend. Her ginger hair flowed down in perfect waves, framing her delicate face. Her white skin glowed under the sun, complementing her piercing blue eyes that always seemed to gaze straight into his soul. Her curves made him weak in the knees, and he couldn't help but admire her every move. She wasn't just cute, she was an angel in his eyes.

Oh, boy. I'm not intimidated. He dried his sweaty hands on his jeans as he approached them. They were unaware of his presence. Nope. Not one bit intimidated. Why should I? This place is all I've ever dreamed of and more. They are students here, just like me. 

Does it matter that I'm the only son of the Head of the Elite and the nephew of the former one? That I managed to get a spot here after 'falsely' hitting a Sonic Echo Ranger and although I failed the admittance test? That Aunt Naomi set me up by influencing members of the board? That she passed me all the notes from class and that I took a crash course these last few days in what they've covered in class in a month? That I've already been tested on that syllabus and got an A+? 

They won't be jealous or pissed about all that, will they? It's no biggie, right? Sky chuckled nervously, his palms sweating. What could go wrong if I approach my former friends now? He sighed deeply. Of course, it'll go wrong. We've been friends since Kindergarten. We used to be close friends, especially Hazel. But now they hate my guts. They'll shun me regardless. Here goes nothing.

As Sky awkwardly walked towards them, his former friends spotted him. They watched him with weary eyes and distrust. They whispered amongst themselves as if he didn't deserve to be there.

Don't screw this up, Sky. He raised a hand to greet them. He pressed his lips in a thin line and hoped for the best. I know what they're thinking. Yes, I feel ashamed of being here too, knowing that Aunt Naomi pulled some strings to get me accepted as a student. She was so happy that I don't think I should let her down. I might be undeserving of being here, but I can still make her proud, right?

"Hello, there," he shyly said. "It's been a long time since the last day of senior year in..." His greeting met their cold stares and their crossed arms over their chests. Hazel was the first to ignore him, leave him hanging, and head towards their classroom. Her blazing-red ginger hair floated behind her as she walked with angry strides. "... high school."

That went well. He sighed. I miss her so much.

Sky arrived at his classroom. The room was large, with high ceilings and rows of desks. The blackboard at the front was adorned with the words "Elite Combat Training".

He took his seat, trying to ignore the blood-chilling stares of his classmates. Luca's was the worst by far. Is he growling at me or am I imagining things?

Luca was a tall, lanky boy with a mop of curly brown hair that always seemed to be in his face. He had striking blue eyes that shone like sapphires and a charming smile. His skin was tanned from spending most of his free time outdoors, and he had a few scars on his arms.

"The dipshit is looking our way again," Charlotte whispered, but Sky heard her.

Charlotte was a tall girl with a muscular build. Her caramel skin was smooth and she wore her curly, dark hair in a short bob. Her almond-shaped eyes were a warm brown, and she had a small scar above her left eyebrow.

"What should we do?" Winona asked, also whispering.

Winona had long, straight black hair that she often wore in a braid or a bun. Her skin was a warm, golden brown and she had high cheekbones and a pointed chin. Her eyes were a deep brown, and she often adorned herself with jewellery made from beads and feathers.

"Ignore him. He'll eventually get the message," Kenji replied in disdain.

Kenji was shorter than Luca, but his build was sturdy and athletic. He had spiky black hair that was always styled perfectly, and his dark, almond-shaped eyes had a sharp intensity to them. His skin was a warm olive tone, and he had a small, neatly trimmed beard and thin lips.

And last but not least, there was Hazel. "Leave the nitwit alone. He doesn't deserve the slightest of our attention." Her words were aimed straight at him, loud and clear.

Sky swallowed hard and stopped looking at them. He took a seat far from them, but it was useless. Everybody knew.

"... slotted in," nasty whispers in the room said.

I need to block them out. He clenched his teeth.

"Good day, students," Naomi said as she entered the classroom. The teenagers all shut up and sat on their respective chairs. She smiled briefly at Sky and resumed speaking, "Today we'll be looking at types of phoenixes. Open your booklets, please."

As Sky got his booklet out from his backpack—Phoenix Fauna: The Survivor's Guide— he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He was finally there, at the Elite Academy, studying to become a warrior. I vow to work hard and prove that I deserve to be here—even to these arseholes who used to be my friends.

Naomi stood at the front of the lecture hall, her arms mildly gesturing in the air as she spoke with confidence about the different types of phoenixes. Her voice was clear and steady, carrying across the room to every corner.

"Phoenixes are called like that because the first swarm which attacked our city included aviary specimens which used fire against us to reduce our city to ashes. Being hard to kill is another reason to use that mythological name for them," she began, her eyes scanning the crowd of students. "They come in many different shapes and sizes. One of the most formidable types is the Airshark."

She pulled up a hologram of the creature, and the students murmured in awe as they saw its size and fierce appearance.

"Airsharks are known for their peculiar, shark-shaped head, their sharp teeth, and their ability to spit venom at their enemies. They are also incredibly fast and agile, able to fly at incredible speeds through the air. Their DNA is a splice: eagle mixed with shark DNA."

Naomi continued to speak about the creature's strengths and weaknesses, detailing the vulnerabilities of its robotic parts and the areas that should be targeted to cause maximum damage. She proceeded with the rest of the types of phoenixes with ease.

As she was about to finish her lecture, many students raised their hands to ask questions. Naomi smiled at them, satisfied with their attentiveness and eagerness to learn. She addressed all their doubts in an orderly fashion.

"Remember, knowledge is power," she said in the end, as the last hologram faded away at the click of a button. While she spoke, she opened a small flask with round, pink pills in it that she had hanging around her neck like a necklace, and took a couple of pills right before she said, "And it is up to us to use that power to protect ourselves and defeat our enemies."

Sky tried to focus on his aunt Naomi's lecture, but he couldn't help but recall the sneers and jeers from his former friends. During the class, they whispered and laughed under their noses, throwing occasional glances his way. The heat in him rose in his cheeks and his fists clenched under the desk. It seemed like no matter where he went, he couldn't escape the feeling of being an outsider.

As the class drew to a close, Naomi asked if anyone had any last questions. Sky kept his head down, hoping to avoid any further attention, but then Kenji spoke up.

"Yeah, I have a question," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How did Sky even get into this Academy? He didn't pass the admission test."

He and the rest of the students knew full well the reason why.

The other students laughed under their noses, and Sky felt his face grow hot with humiliation. He wanted to stand up and confront them, but he knew that would only make things worse. So he sat there, seething with anger and shame.

"Everybody shut up. I will not tolerate indiscipline and mockery in this class." His aunt tried to calm the class down with an authoritative approach. It worked—for the time being.

When the bell rang, Sky grabbed his backpack and quickly made his way out of the classroom, trying to avoid any further confrontation—even fleeing from his aunt.

"Sky, wait!" she begged, but he was gone. She huffed almost noiselessly.

The students shuffled out of their classrooms.

"Attention, please. All students must go to the infirmary for their monthly blood donations," a male voice announced over the PA. Anti-Ageing Inc. must be waiting for the blood samples. They need blood and plasma for rejuvenating transfusions for the wealthy elderly.

As they entered the infirmary, the students saw rows of chairs with nurses and medical staff hovering over them with syringes and needles.

When it was Sky's turn, he winced as the needle pierced his skin, but he tried to remain calm and composed. He watched as the blood flowed from his veins into a small tube.

As the students finished their blood donations, they were given a free checkup and small bottles of pills depending on their blood results. Sky was given a B12 and a protein supplement.

Sky almost crushed the supplement bottles in his hand. I hate these. I don't know why everybody is so hyped up by Anti-Ageing Inc.'s free products for students. Do you think you could have bigger muscles? Try some protein supplements. Are you feeling depressed? Take some B12. It feels like cheating.

He sighed with discomfort. The only one who doesn't pump up her body with drugs she doesn't need is Aunt Naomi. The pills she takes are vital for her—literally. Otherwise, she'd die. She–

Something interrupted his train of thought. He just walked by the door to the Academy's library when he saw Hazel quickly grab a small bottle from her pocket and pop a pill into her mouth. Right when she was swallowing it, she made a grim face.

Her eyes locked with his for a moment, and she glared at him but said nothing.

I wonder what these pills are for and what that grim face is about, but I don't want to pry. Sky spotted the prefix "neuro-" on the green label of the bottle as he walked on by. Something is wrong with her brain?!

As Sky walked through the busy halls of the Academy, his eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the bright, flashing holographic ads that popped up around him. The ads were for Anti-Ageing Inc.'s latest products, and they were everywhere. Since the company founded the academy, it also owned it. So, they were free to post their ads everywhere.

On his way to the next class, he dodged an ad that was for a day cream called "Queen Bee Serum", which promised to rejuvenate the skin using honey and queen bee DNA to give it a youthful glow. How many of my classmates have already fallen for these marketing gimmicks?

But the next ad he dodged caught Sky's attention the most. It was for the neuro-enhancing pills Hazel had been taking.

This is the same green label. His eyes opened wide and paid attention to the ad. They're called "Neurovitamins". The ad promises that the pills boost cognitive function, improve memory and concentration, and enhance overall brain power—also reducing the chances of a rupture of brain aneurysms. What the hell?!

Sky couldn't help but feel a pang of cynicism and indignation as he watched the ad. Those pills would give anyone an unfair advantage over their peers. I see. I should've taken drugs before taking the admission test.

But as Sky continued on his way, he couldn't help but feel uneasy about the whole thing. Something about these ads and their promises seemed too good to be true. He made a mental note to do some research on the company and their products, but for now, he had a class to attend.

Hello, my sugar cubes!

If you lived in a society that doesn't frown on taking drugs such as these to become stronger/younger/better than your peers, would you take them? Or would you think it's unfair?

Stay tuned!

XOXO

Mar