Heroes of Veridia: Evelyn's Journey

"Miss Blackwood," he greeted, motioning for her to sit, though Evelyn remained standing.

"What can I do for you?" she asked, crossing her arms casually, trying not to show how tired she felt.

The Manager leaned back in his chair, his expression stern yet composed. "Anytime you want to leave the premises, do not wear that," he said, gesturing toward her black tracksuit emblazoned with the Phantom Edge logo.

Evelyn glanced down at the tracksuit and shrugged. "Oh, I had no choice. These are the ones provided."

The Manager tapped his fingers on the desk before signaling to one of the guards. "Thanks to your father's status, I can't prevent you from going out. However," the guard returned, carrying a set of plain white tracksuits and placing them on the desk, "you can have these."

He pointed at the clothes. "Phantom Edge isn't a secret organization, but students like you could bring unwanted attention if people outside find out you have a connection with us."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Is that why the school can't be found on any map of Veridia?"

The Manager gave her a knowing smile. "It doesn't exist. Everything you see around you," he waved a hand toward the surroundings, "I created with my gift. I'm protecting the students from outsiders."

Evelyn smirked slightly. "It seems one outsider already infiltrated your domain."

"I know about her," the Manager said, unfazed. "We don't care. I know where she came from and what they want. As long as I'm not on their list, I don't concern myself with it. Besides, most of you will graduate after two months. Others will quit before then. You won't be here for long."

Evelyn's eyes darkened at the memory of her encounter on the train. "She nearly killed me."

The Manager's tone remained indifferent. "We all saw the news. It looked like an attempted kidnapping to me."

"Right." Evelyn sighed, picking up the white tracksuits. "Thanks for these." She turned to leave but hesitated by the door. "What happens after we graduate?"

The Manager folded his hands, his face unreadable. "You do whatever you want with your life."

Evelyn shook her head slightly, giving him a sarcastic smirk. "Fair enough." She walked out, carrying the tracksuits.

As she made her way back to her dorm, she spotted Vanessa and her group of friends lounging by the hallway. Vanessa, seeing the white tracksuits in Evelyn's hands, smirked and stepped in front of her.

"What do we have here?" Vanessa sneered, grabbing one of the tracksuits from Evelyn's grip. "Why do you get a white one when we all have black? Do you need to stand out that badly?"

Evelyn, her patience already thin, felt a wave of irritation but masked it with a smile. She decided to play along. "Well, Vanessa, when you're as important as I am, standing out is inevitable. Besides," she leaned in mockingly, "white suits me better."

Vanessa's face twisted with annoyance, and she raised her hand as if to toss the tracksuit on the ground.

Before she could, Vivian appeared behind her, grabbing her wrist in a firm grip. "Don't," Vivian warned, her voice cool.

At the same moment, Evelyn's silent companion, Number One, stepped forward and grabbed Vanessa's other hand, mirroring Vivian's move. Vanessa winced in pain, caught between the two.

Vivian glared at Number One. "What are you doing?" she asked, clearly irritated.

Number One remained silent, as always, awaiting orders from Evelyn.

Vanessa let out a small gasp of pain, her bravado vanishing as the pressure on her wrists increased. "Let go!" she snapped, her voice laced with desperation.

Evelyn gave a slight nod, signaling for Number One to release her. "Let her go."

Number One stepped back, but Evelyn stopped him with a glance. "Stay," she commanded softly.

Vivian let go of Vanessa as well, taking the tracksuit from her hands and passing it back to Evelyn before releasing her grip.

Vanessa, now free, glared at the two sisters, her face flushed with anger. "You'll regret this," she spat before storming off with her friends.

Vivian shook her head, watching Vanessa's retreating form. "She needs to grow up."

Evelyn shrugged, unfazed by the encounter. "What can you do?"

Vivian turned her attention to Number One, her expression a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Who is he? And why is he always with you?"

Evelyn gave her a tired smile, pulling her white tracksuits closer to her chest. "I've never questioned the people you walk with. Why should you question mine?"

Vivian frowned but let it go.

Vivian and Evelyn walked side by side down the corridor toward their dorms. The silence stretched for a few moments before Vivian finally spoke.

"Can you at least tell me where you went?" Vivian asked, her voice tinged with exasperation. "I've been looking to talk to you."

Evelyn shot her a sarcastic glance. "Out."

Vivian frowned. "I'm serious, Evelyn. I want you to join my team."

"Team?!" Evelyn stopped, turning to face her sister, her expression one of genuine surprise.

Vivian nodded. "Yes. Logan, Selene, and I have formed a team for some of the future challenges in Phantom Edge. We'd like you to join us." Her eyes flicked to the three soldiers walking behind Evelyn. "But I won't stop until you tell me who these guys are."

Evelyn glanced over her shoulder at her silent companions. "They're with me."

Vivian stepped in front of Evelyn, blocking her path. "Are you already in a team?"

"No." Evelyn sighed, her tone softening a bit. "I'll tell you about them when the time is right. For now, just let me rest. I'll think about your invitation. Though, I wouldn't get my hopes up. The person who tried to kill me is in your team, so..." She trailed off, giving Vivian a knowing look. "But don't worry, I'll think about it."

Vivian tried to hide a smirk but couldn't. "I'll be waiting." She turned to head toward her dorm, but not before giving the three soldiers one last suspicious glare.

Evelyn watched her go, her thoughts racing. She was too polite. There must be more to it. After a moment, she gave a subtle signal to the soldiers. "You can head to your dorms."

The soldiers nodded and quietly dispersed, leaving Evelyn alone with her thoughts.

The next morning, Evelyn woke up before her alarm could blare its usual annoying tone. She was already in the gym, focused on the day's objective.

"Huff," she breathed heavily, sweat dripping from her forehead as she completed another set of exercises. She had planned an intense workout for herself—one that would push her limits. She had just finished a set of burpees, followed by deadlifts and squats, her muscles burning from the effort. But she kept going, determined. "I'll be able to complete every one of them today, but I have to finish before everyone gets here," she muttered to herself, a smile forming despite her exhaustion. "Victor's created a monster."

After what felt like hours, she completed her last set, just as a student entered the gym. He looked surprised to see her already there, drenched in sweat and sitting in a corner. His shock quickly faded as he realized he hadn't even started his exercises yet.

Evelyn glanced across the gym, noticing her soldiers had also finished, though they hadn't completed as many sets as she had. She gave a subtle nod. Number One, come with me, she thought, and he nodded back from across the room.

As she stood up to leave, Evelyn's mind drifted to the intruders she had captured the day before. I can't wait to see what happened to them. Just as she approached the door, she bumped into Vivian, who was entering the gym.

"You've got to be kidding me," Evelyn thought, not exactly pleased to see her again so soon.

Vivian's eyes widened in surprise, her suspicion evident. "Done already?" she asked, shaking her head. But she quickly brushed the thought aside, replacing it with a smile. "How many did you manage to do this time?"

Evelyn smirked, leaning in slightly and gesturing for Vivian to come closer. "I did all of them. And this is only the second day."

Vivian crossed her arms, clearly skeptical. "I'm serious, Evelyn."

With a straight face, Evelyn replied, "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Selene, who had just entered behind Vivian, grinned. "Looks like you'll need to step up your game, Vivian."

Vivian shot her a glare. "Shut up. There's no way she could've done all of them. She was practically dead after one set yesterday."

Logan joined the conversation, his tone as practical as ever. "It's better we start early. This isn't the only thing we'll be doing today."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "It's not?"

"No," Logan continued. "Afternoon, we'll be doing agility and reflex training. It might've been smart to reserve some of your energy."

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the advice, but I think it's too late for that."

Logan, curious, tilted his head. "Did you complete everything?"

Evelyn smirked mischievously. "Nah. I just wanted to see her reaction." She pointed at Vivian, whose expression turned to one of mild relief.

"I told you!" Vivian exclaimed, nudging Selene. "There's no way she could've done it all. She was on the verge of death yesterday."

Evelyn chuckled and patted Vivian on the shoulder. "See you at noon."

As she began walking away, Vivian called after her. "Where are you going?"

"The cafeteria," Evelyn said. "I'm drained."

Vivian nodded, though her suspicion lingered. "See you later." Her mood visibly darkened when she saw Number One silently following Evelyn out of the gym.

Selene nudged Vivian. "Is he her friend or something?"

Vivian shook her head, looking puzzled. "How am I supposed to know?"

After taking a shower and changing into fresh clothes, Evelyn headed to the cafeteria. When she arrived, Number One was already there, seated quietly at a table. He, too, had cleaned up and changed into fresh clothes.

Evelyn grabbed her breakfast and sat across from him, studying him briefly before eating in silence. She didn't need words with him.

Evelyn sat down in the cafeteria, finishing off her luxurious meal—a well-balanced plate of grilled chicken, quinoa salad, steamed vegetables, and a smoothie packed with nutrients and protein. She savored each bite, knowing she needed every bit of energy for what was to come. Once done, she got up and disposed of her plate.

Number One, standing silently next to her, hadn't touched his food. As a non-human, he did not need it. Instead, he picked up the untouched plate and offered it to Evelyn.

"I'm full," she said, waving off the gesture. As she turned back to the cafeteria, her gaze landed on a boy sitting alone at the far end of the bench. His silver eyes gleamed in the low cafeteria light, and he quickly averted his gaze when he noticed her looking.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with him?" she asked, more to herself than anyone else. She watched as the boy fidgeted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable under her gaze.

Without further thought, Evelyn nodded at Number One. "Give it to him."

Number One walked over to the boy and silently placed the plate in front of him. The silver-eyed boy looked up, startled, and muttered a quick thank you before ravenously digging into the food.

Evelyn watched, a smile tugging at her lips as the boy devoured the meal like he hadn't eaten in days. He must've been starving, she thought, quietly amused.

After a moment, she stood up, gesturing for Number One to follow. Together, they made their way to the Manager's office.

The Manager sat behind his desk, his chair angled slightly as he looked over some documents. When Evelyn entered with Number One trailing behind, he barely glanced up.

"Who is this?" he asked, his eyes flicking briefly to Number One before returning to his papers.

"He's with me," Evelyn replied, her tone flat but firm.

The Manager set his papers down and looked at her fully this time. "I can't let anyone out. I know nothing about him."

Evelyn's mind raced. Checks out. There's a reason only I know him, she thought, keeping her face neutral. "He'll be with me at all times. Trust me."

The Manager leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment before speaking again. "And his outfit," he said, gesturing to the tracksuit bearing the Phantom Edge logo. "I've already warned you about wearing that outside the premises. I don't care what happens to you out there."

"I'll take care of it," Evelyn assured him. "Just drop me off at my house, and I'll grab some cash to buy him something else to wear."

The Manager sighed, his tone turning more businesslike. "The reflex training starts at one. You've got four hours out there. Do whatever you want, but make sure you're back on time, or you'll be skipping dinner tonight."

Evelyn winced, remembering that she had only eaten once the day before. "Did I miss anything yesterday?"

"No," the Manager replied, shaking his head. "Everyone ate only once."

He caught on quickly, Evelyn thought, mildly impressed. "Make sure you come get me on time."

"Get lost," the Manager said curtly. With a wave of his hand, he created a swirling portal behind her, and before Evelyn could react, it sucked both her and Number One inside.

The portal spat them out in the middle of Evelyn's room. She landed with a soft thud, catching her balance quickly. Her room was tidy, as always—her bed neatly made, her books in place, and everything organized to perfection.

She glanced around, slightly disoriented by the sudden teleportation, but relieved that everything was in order. Number One stood silently beside her, his expression unreadable as always. Evelyn's thoughts were already racing. She had limited time, and there was much to do.

"Let's get moving," she muttered to herself, feeling the pressure of the ticking clock.

Number One followed as Evelyn started planning her next steps. First, she needed to get some cash, and then, she had to figure out how to handle the impending challenges that Phantom Edge had in store for her.

Evelyn grabbed her visa card and jumped out the window, the height hardly a concern. She descended swiftly, summoning a large flower with a flick of her wrist. Its soft petals opened just in time to break her fall, and she landed gracefully.

"Let's do some hero work," she murmured to herself, her expression determined as she stood upright.

Number One followed closely behind, leaping from the window and landing beside her without a sound, closing it on his way out. He stood at attention, awaiting her orders.

"We can't have anyone knowing about my identity," Evelyn said, her voice low. She raised her hand to her face, vines and bark intertwining as a wooden mask grew and covered her entire face. She pulled her hood up, concealing her features even further, leaving only the stark white tracksuit visible beneath the cloak of secrecy.

Without wasting time, she handed her visa card to Number One. "Take this and get yourself a white suit. I'll be waiting near the serum factory."

Number One, ever silent, accepted the card and took off in a blur. He dashed through the city streets, his movements a blur of speed as he navigated the early morning crowd with ease.

Evelyn lingered for a moment, letting her eyes sweep the surroundings. The sun was already rising, casting long shadows across the streets. But beneath the quiet hum of the waking city, she could sense a tension brewing. Something was coming.

"Let's see how today goes," she whispered to herself, before blending into the flow of the morning, heading toward the serum factory.