GUARDIANS

XII. Drizella (Part II)

A week ago

Knock knock. Faith hesitated before gently tapping on Prof. Luxe's office door.

"Come in," a calm voice replied.

Faith stepped inside, her nerves evident in the way she gripped the strap of her bag. Her eyes quickly scanned the room, landing on Prof. Luxe, who was immersed in grading papers. His pen moved with precision, though he paused the moment she entered.

"I-I'm sorry to disturb you today, professor," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Prof. Luxe set down his pen and looked up, his expression calm but curious. "No need to apologize, Faith. I'm here for my students. But tell me—what's on your mind? I hope it's worth listening to."

Her shoulders tensed, and she glanced down at her shoes. "Well... I don't think mine is worth listening to," she mumbled.

The professor leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. He observed her carefully before speaking. "Your present, isn't it?"

Faith's head shot up, surprise flickering in her eyes. Slowly, she nodded. "Yes, professor."

He exhaled thoughtfully, his gaze softening. "I'm not surprised. You've been working on unlocking it for weeks, haven't you? Yet... nothing."

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Yes," she admitted, her voice heavy with frustration. "That's why I came to you. I've already accepted that I might've been born without a present... and... I know I might just be a burden to my team because of it. But even so, I still want to become a Guardian, just like you."

Prof. Luxe tilted his head slightly, his demeanor never shifting. He let her words hang in the air, ensuring she had said all she needed.

"So... my question is," she continued, "How... how can I even take the first step without powers? I keep messing up, and I'm terrified that I'll always be holding my team back."

For a moment, Prof. Luxe said nothing. He got up from his desk, crossed his arms, and leaned against its edge. "Hmm... I see. Before we address your question, Ms. Dreamscape, may I ask you something first?"

She blinked, confused by his sudden shift. "Uh... sure, I guess?"

"When I was your age," he began, his tone calm but laced with intrigue, "what kind of person do you think I was?"

Faith tilted her head, caught off guard by the unexpected question. "You're asking me?"

"Yes. Take a guess."

She frowned, thinking carefully. "Uh... I guess you were like how you are now? Calm, gentle, serious?"

A low chuckle escaped him. "Flattering. But no, not even close."

Her confusion deepened. "Then... what were you?"

"I was," he said slowly, as though recalling a distant memory, "a member of the Legion of Fear."

Faith's jaw dropped. "YOU?!" she exclaimed.

He nodded solemnly. "When my parents discovered what I had become, they sent me to UCA. They believed the academy could set me on the right path. But I'll tell you this—out of all the students in my year, my predecessor despised me the most. Unlike others, I didn't receive the same support or encouragement. I wasn't strong, nor was I respected. My reputation as a troublemaker preceded me."

Faith stared at him, stunned. "I never would've guessed."

Prof. Luxe smiled faintly. "Not many would. The turning point came when my team was formed. Everyone expected Dante—our star student—to be chosen as leader. But the Hand..." He laughed softly, shaking his head. "The Hand chose me instead."