The classroom was quiet, save for the occasional shuffle of paper and the faint hum of the lights above. Jayce sat at his desk, feeling the aftereffects of his glitching abilities still tugging at his consciousness. His mind felt hazy, but there was a certain clarity in the static. Ryuu sat beside him, his eyes scanning the room as the other students prepared for whatever the day would bring. They all had their own unique abilities, each more fascinating than the last. But in the back corner, Tsukina wasn’t visible to anyone in the classroom. Jayce had ensured that. He’d placed her in his glitch world to keep her safe, a space where she could still see everything, but no one could see her. Elysumians weren’t allowed in the academy, and while Tsukina had been sneaking around before, Jayce couldn’t afford to let her be discovered now. Tsukina floated in the glitch space, a fractured, glitching world where nothing felt real, yet everything felt overwhelming. She could see the classroom, feel the energy of the students around her, but the images and sounds were distorted, like everything was on the edge of breaking. It was disorienting, and no matter how much she tried to anchor herself, the world around her shifted. Every movement she made felt like walking through a fog. She watched as Jayce sat in his seat, his golden eyes flickering with the faintest traces of static, his aura buzzing with an energy that didn’t belong to him. She could feel his struggle to control his glitching powers, but she was powerless to help him in this space. She was stuck in a dimension that was a reflection of his broken reality, a space she couldn’t manipulate. Tsukina sighed, still observing the classroom through the fractured lens. The students continued with their quiet conversations, but Tsukina could feel the tension in the air. She noticed Oren, a stern Regalian teacher, making his way toward Jayce’s desk. Oren’s sharp eyes scanned Jayce, picking up the faint flickers of the glitching aura emanating from him.
“Jayce,” Oren said, his voice cutting through the murmur of the classroom. “Are you using your abilities without permission?” Jayce, lost in his own thoughts, blinked at the teacher’s words. He hadn’t realized the glitching had flared up again, but the feeling was unmistakable. His aura flickered uncontrollably, a sign that the malfunctioning energy was seeping out again. He quickly shook his head, his voice sluggish. “I’m not doing anything.” Oren narrowed his eyes. “There’s something unusual coming from you. You’re not allowed to use your abilities unless directed. Especially in the classroom.” Tsukina watched the interaction with growing concern, but she could do nothing but observe. Her presence was undetectable, hidden in the glitch world. She could feel the shift in the atmosphere when Oren spoke, but there was little she could do to stop it. Before Jayce could respond, the classroom was interrupted by a sudden crackle in the air as the intercom came to life. A smooth, authoritative voice echoed over the speakers, surprising everyone in the room.
“This is Claudia Rose, the Goddess of Regalia,” the voice resonated through the walls, leaving the students momentarily stunned. It was the first time any of them had heard her voice, and it carried a weight that made them pause. “Today’s task will focus on power maintenance and PvP—Prepare yourselves for battle simulations. You will be matched up with opponents and must use your abilities to stay in control. No excessive force will be allowed. Keep in mind, you are being observed for your adaptability and control.” The classroom buzzed with whispers, students glancing at each other in surprise. No one had anticipated such an announcement. Jayce blinked at the sudden shift in energy, his mind briefly cleared by the mention of the battle simulations. Oren, still eyeing Jayce with suspicion, grunted under his breath as the announcement ended. “Looks like you’ll be tested today, Jayce. Try not to let your glitches get the better of you. Control is key.” Jayce nodded, rubbing his forehead. “I’m doing my best.” His voice was thick with exhaustion, but his eyes hardened with the realization that today was going to be more than just another class.
Tsukina, still in the glitch world, felt the world around her shimmer as the announcement distorted the already-fractured reality. She couldn’t help but feel the weight of the situation. The room was now filled with tension, and she was caught in the limbo of Jayce’s glitch. As the students began to stir, preparing for the upcoming task, Tsukina couldn’t help but wonder what was next. She knew she couldn’t stay in the glitch world forever, but for now, it was the only place she could be hidden. The classroom buzzed with excitement after Claudia’s announcement, the students murmuring in anticipation. It was rare to even hear the Goddess of Regalia’s voice, and now they were about to experience the reality of her presence. Some whispered about what she would look like, others about what kinds of tasks she might assign. Everyone was ready, their adrenaline already spiking. Finally, they'd get to test their abilities in a real battle simulation.
The classroom buzzed with excitement after Claudia’s announcement, the students murmuring in anticipation. It was rare to even hear the Goddess of Regalia’s voice, and now they were about to experience the reality of her presence. Some whispered about what she would look like, others about what kinds of tasks she might assign. Everyone was ready, their adrenaline already spiking. Finally, they'd get to test their abilities in a real battle simulation.
The classroom buzzed with excitement after Claudia’s announcement, the students murmuring in anticipation. It was rare to even hear the Goddess of Regalia’s voice, and now they were about to experience the reality of her presence. Some whispered about what she would look like, others about what kinds of tasks she might assign. Everyone was ready, their adrenaline already spiking. Finally, they'd get to test their abilities in a real battle simulation.
The classroom buzzed with excitement after Claudia’s announcement, the students murmuring in anticipation. It was rare to even hear the Goddess of Regalia’s voice, and now they were about to experience the reality of her presence. Some whispered about what she would look like, others about what kinds of tasks she might assign. Everyone was ready, their adrenaline already spiking. Finally, they'd get to test their abilities in a real battle simulation.
Jayce, however, felt the growing pressure. He stood by, feeling like his mind was stretched thin. He didn’t feel the same thrill as the others—he had more to lose today than just a fight. His glitching world, his connection to Tsukina, was still a dangerous thing to manage. Every shift in his ability, every moment of instability, could expose her. Tsukina could break free from his world if he lost control, and that would be disastrous for both of them.
******
Ryuu noticed the tension in Jayce’s posture as they were led to one of the academy’s sprawling training grounds. He gave Jayce a reassuring nod. “You’ll do fine. Just focus.”
Jayce barely registered the words, his eyes flickering nervously between Ryuu and the rest of the class. He could feel the familiar hum of his ability in the back of his mind, itching to be used, but he knew he couldn’t afford to lose control.
The teacher, Oren, was already scanning through his tablet, reading out names for the battle simulations. “Alright, settle down,” Oren called out, snapping his fingers to draw their attention. “We’re about to get started. First, Jayce, you'll be facing Ash.”
A murmur ran through the students. Jayce glanced around, looking for the source of the whispering. Ash was an unfamiliar name to him, but Oren’s explanation caught his attention.
“Ash,” Oren continued, “Has the ability to hack through systems. His powers work similarly to Jayce’s but with a different manifestation. Instead of colorful glitches, he manipulates systems using black and green code. His ability allows him to bypass nearly any kind of security.”
Jayce’s jaw tightened. code? he thought. He didn’t like the sound of it. It felt almost too similar to his own glitching power but with a more mechanical edge. Jayce couldn’t help the irritation bubbling within him. The last thing he wanted was to face someone with an ability almost identical to his. And as the teacher went on about Ash’s capabilities, Jayce felt the pressure of keeping his own ability in check.
If I make the wrong move... Jayce thought, his gaze flicking toward Ryuu before he glanced back at the arena, Tsukina might be released.
He couldn’t allow that. Not here. Not in front of so many people.
“Alright, both of you, center stage,” Oren ordered, pulling Jayce from his thoughts. The class began to shuffle to the sides of the arena, leaving Jayce and Ash standing in the center. Jayce hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, his mind already working overtime.
As Jayce walked into the center, he felt the eyes of his peers on him, but he couldn’t allow himself to be distracted. Ash was already in position, his eyes dark and focused, as if eager to test his skills. The air around him hummed as the black and green Morse code began to flicker into view.
Here we go, Jayce thought, setting his jaw. He could feel his byability itching at the edges of his mind, ready to respond.