Chapter 1:The calm before the storm
Alex Kairo's life was, by all means, ordinary. A bit too ordinary. The only things that marked his days were his morning jogs, the same monotonous classes at high school, and his routine preparations for the upcoming academy enrollment. And yet, the thought of leaving behind the boring life of a regular student for the prestigious Vanguard Academy stirred a mix of excitement and unease in him.
The Vanguard Academy wasn't just a school. It was the place where humanity's most gifted—those with special abilities—were trained to fight the alien invaders slowly making their way toward Earth. A mysterious extraterrestrial species, known only as The Zha'ra, had been causing subtle disturbances for years, and humanity had just begun to uncover the truth. The truth that would change everything.
In the past few decades, humans had developed abilities. Some could control elements, others had telekinetic power, and some had enhanced physical traits. These powers, though rare, were becoming more common, and those who possessed them were sought out for military training to defend Earth from the coming alien war. But what Alex didn't know was that his life would soon take a drastic turn.
Alex often heard people talk about the Chosen Ones, individuals specially selected to play a key role in the battle to defend Earth. His parents, whom he had tragically lost to the war, had been among them. They were skilled operatives who fought on the frontlines, yet their deaths had always been shrouded in secrecy. His mother had left him nothing but a necklace. A small, black pendant in the shape of a fang, its origins unclear.
The pendant was the only thing his parents had left behind for him.
Alex stared at the pendant now, the weight of it heavy in his hand. It wasn't much, but it was all he had left of them. The only tangible memory of their presence in his life. That and the stories from the handful of old war veterans who had known them, who spoke about them in hushed tones when they thought he wasn't listening.
As Alex sat in his room, going over his academy application for what felt like the thousandth time, he could barely contain his restlessness. The Vanguard Academy would train him in techniques he could barely imagine. If he could survive the grueling regimen, he'd be sent into combat—maybe even battle alongside other ability users.
A knock at his door broke his thoughts.
"Come in," Alex called, pushing the application aside.
Mr. Hamlin, his high school teacher, entered the room. The middle-aged man had always been a bit of a mystery to Alex—an enigmatic figure with an aura of experience that made him seem older than his years. He was a former soldier who had seen the horrors of war firsthand and had once trained at Vanguard Academy himself. He was one of the few people who seemed to care about Alex's future, even if they didn't always talk much. Today, however, he had something on his mind.
"You look distracted, Kairo," Mr. Hamlin said, folding his arms. "You've been quiet since the morning class. Thinking about the Academy?"
Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. I'm just not sure if I'm ready. I mean… I don't have any special abilities like the others. My power's just... physical enhancement. It doesn't seem like much."
Mr. Hamlin raised an eyebrow. "You might not have a flashy ability, but that's not the most important thing, Kairo. The Zha'ra aren't going to be taken down by flashy abilities alone. It's the training, the discipline, the willingness to fight that makes the difference. You've got that in spades. You've got more than just physical enhancement—you've got the heart and the drive to push through."
Alex hesitated. "I know... but sometimes it feels like I'm just trying to follow in my parents' footsteps. They were Chosen Ones. They had abilities. They were on the front lines of the war. And all I've got is this..."
Mr. Hamlin's expression softened. He uncrossed his arms and sat down across from Alex.
"You're more like them than you think, Kairo. Your parents were great warriors, no doubt. But the true strength they had wasn't just in their powers—it was in their resolve. Their belief that they could make a difference, no matter what they faced. They didn't just train for the fight, they lived it."
Alex looked at the pendant again, his thoughts heavy.
"I don't even know what this necklace means," Alex murmured, holding it up. "It's just a piece of jewelry. My mother gave it to me before... before they died. It doesn't seem like much."
Mr. Hamlin studied the pendant for a moment, his face thoughtful. "That necklace... It might seem like just a memento, but you'll find that it's more important than you think. Your parents didn't just give you a piece of jewelry. They gave you something that could change everything. Keep that in mind as you move forward. That necklace might hold the key to a power you haven't even discovered yet."
Alex's brows furrowed, a sense of unease creeping in. "What do you mean? You're talking like it's... alive."
Hamlin gave him a knowing look, as though he knew something Alex didn't, but he didn't elaborate. "The world's changing, Kairo. The Zha'ra are coming. The war isn't just about abilities anymore—it's about survival. If you truly want to protect those you love, you'll need to be ready for what comes next."
Alex nodded, though he wasn't sure if he believed it. Still, there was something in the teacher's words that stuck with him. Maybe his parents had been more than just soldiers. Maybe they had been part of something bigger—something that would one day come for him.
Alex stood up, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. The Vanguard Academy would be his chance to find out what kind of person he was meant to become. But for now, he just had to keep moving forward.
His next stop was the store for supplies. It was a normal day, or so he thought. But what he didn't know was that the world was about to change forever.