It all started around seventy to eighty years ago, with a mass awakening; which the scientists called 'The Great Awakening'.
A portion of the human population suddenly gained some extraordinary powers. Enhanced strength, enhanced senses like vision, smell, hearing, super speed, and so on.
With the sudden gain of an unexpected capability, the human population went astray. Some of them couldn't understand what to do; some didn't know the effects or the consequences, and some started manipulating their powers for their own gain. Result? Chaos erupted all over the world.
Already backed by advanced technology and with the newly found superpowers, the stronger started war, the weaker suffered. As a result of excessive resource exploitation, and devastating annihilation, the world teetered on the brink of collapse in just a few years.
But... 'Every problem has its solution.'
While the powerful of the world were consumed with the power play, behind everyone's backs, some secret agencies took responsibility for restoring the world to its original form. Who were they, what their working methods were, shrouded in complete ignorance.
However, as a result of their intervention, the devastation gradually subsided within a few years. The order of the world was restored, but with the presence of a new entity, 'The Elites'.
It was then that the mystery finally came to the light of public attention; humanity's saviours were none other than them, a bunch of special power holders.
However, the reason for the sudden awakening remained a mystery. Scientists researched it for years; the research was still going on. Many of them came up with various theories, but none of them seemed promising.
Finally, the most suitable theory for it was founded by some of the renowned scientists: the aftermath of the virus outbreak.
About a hundred years ago, a sudden virus outbreak almost brought people's lives to a standstill. Countless people had died, and the whole world was trapped within the four walls of their homes, counting the days - of death or a new day. It took more than five years for the world to return to normal.
And that incident was the reason for the suspicion of the scientists. They thought that the virus or its antidote reaction caused a mutation in human genes, which gradually evolved into superpowers. This affected humans as well as perhaps animals, leading to the appearance of supernatural creatures on Earth. Though there was not much evidence to prove the theory, it seemed the most suitable one.
As time went by, the 'Great Awakening' was confined to the pages of textbooks. Students would later marvel at what their previous generation had gone through. The elites became their idols, the saviours who were around them, working in the shadows, constantly protecting them.
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With the sudden shrill sound of the corridor's bell piercing through his eardrums, Ryan opened his eyes.
It was time.
After a while, the door of the auditorium was wide open. All the students turned around; there were a couple of young men standing at the doorstep along with the principal. They were only a few years older than them. As they entered the hall, all the students stood up. They had such a confident, charismatic aura that the whole auditorium fell silent in a fraction of a second. Only the sound of their heavy footsteps echoed throughout the silent hall.
They strolled through the aisle towards the podium at the very front of the hall and settled themselves in the seats prepared for them. The principal stood in front of the lectern; adjusting the mic, he addressed them.
"Welcome to the annual Meet-and-Greet Day, students. Today, you'll be interacting with the prestigious alumni of Kingston High; they'll interact with you all, and share some important tips with you. But first, let me introduce them to you all...."
After a short speech, the principal started introducing them. The elites didn't complete their studies here; after awakening their dormant potential, they left for the training academy. But as they had spent the earlier months of their high school here, they were regarded as alumni.
The principal introduced them one by one, then smiled at them. "Okay, I'd like to excuse myself. The meeting is now in your hands."
It was another tradition of the school. After a brief introduction, the principal usually left the auditorium leaving the students with the elites alone. The reason was simply to lighten the atmosphere.
Just like the fresh batch's students, the elites also did not have enough time to get along well with the teachers in the school. The presence of a much older senior like the principal would make them uncomfortable, too.
As the auditorium's main door was closed, all the students let out a deep breath. The principal was a tough man; no one dared to speak up in front of him. But now that he was gone, the atmosphere had eased a bit. A faint hum filled the air of the auditorium.
Ryan's gaze was fixed on the podium; he was waiting patiently for an elite to speak. After waiting a full minute and thirty seconds, finally one of the elites stood up, approaching the lectern. He fine-tuned the microphone's angle and then, with a radiant smile on his face, addressed the students.
"Good morning, boys and girls."
Everyone's attention shifted to the podium. His deep and intriguing voice was heard again. "I'm Carl, Carl Whitson. A senior year student of the academy. Though we never met before, consider me as your big brother. Not just me, but all of us. Today, we are not just the elites for you; we're your guide, mentor as well, and a good friend....."
The introduction went smoothly; others joined him, and soon, the speech turned into a conversation. Despite their imposing aura, they were quite friendly and had gotten along with them without much of an effort. Ryan was listening to them attentively, it was becoming more and more interesting.
After the devastation happened in the world due to unexpected power gain, the Government took it seriously. The scientists were instructed to find a solution, and after a couple of years of research, they finally came up with the dormant injection.
It was a serum shot that was given to every child at the time of their birth; as a result, even if they had some extraordinary power, it'd be suppressed until a certain age, mostly till their teens. After that, they could try to awaken their powers.
They explained to them the awakening procedure and shared their experiences when they first sensed it. They also shared some other information that they'd never read in the pages of the textbooks, mostly the awakening related. The elites also spared the questions from the students and answered them calmly.
The meeting was going well, until...
Bam!
A sudden sound of a loud thud startled them. The sound came from the corridor as if someone bashed something onto the ground with great force.
The sound echoed through the hall like a war drum!
Something — or someone — had arrived.