The Originals

40 Years Later

It's been 40 years since the Originals won the battle against The One. The world has changed for the much better. About half of Hertofyrd's citizens have powers now, all branching from the Originals. Though not all of them have children, nor did the powers branch from the Originals themselves, everyone says it's due to them, that this is how the world is. The Originals have since retired, and are living their own lives. Though the Originals don't age, their powers are not as powerful as they once were. Peace reigns supreme in the world of Hertofyrd. The world is split into colonies. There is the Old Colony, which was where the war between the Originals and The One was waged. It resides to the north. The New Colony, which is where the citizens rebuilt the world and their lives. It resides to the east. The Colony of Wealth, which is where farms, mines, and other various things in that category are. It resides to the West. Then there is the Citadel. The Citadel is where the government is. It sits in the middle of the colonies. The Originals decided a government based on what The One first talked about upon arriving was wise for the Colonies.

"AHHHHH!" Hirito sat up, drenched in sweat. The room around him was silent, the bed barely disturbed, the walls bare. He ran a hand through his shortened hair, pushing away the remnants of his dream—a battlefield soaked in blood. He breathed out sharply, standing. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting pale light on the sparse room. He dressed quickly, pulling on his black coat, its golden buttons still gleaming in the dim light. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror—a teacher, a ghost of the man he once was—and then stepped into the quiet night.

      The sun is shining through a window in a classroom. The classroom is silent as the 20 or so children all are writing on a test sheet. At the front of the class, a green chalkboard covers the wall. Written on it is just the words, "TEST DAY." Under the chalkboard is a desk. Sitting behind the desk is Hirito. He has a computer on the left side of him and a stack of papers on his right side. He is reading a book titled, "Where did they go?" He is about halfway through.
"Mr. Wu?" A girl in the front asks, her hand raised. Hirito looks up from his book, "Yes, Ana?" His voice calm and smooth, soft and comforting.
"Where do you want us to put these when done?" She responds.
"Just up here on my desk. Then please remain quite. You may be on your phones after you finish. Headphones are required for listening to things." He goes back to his book as children begin walking up to the desk and setting their papers in front of the other stack.

Most of the kids are on their phones and the papers have become another small stack on the desk. *Ding* *Ding*
"Anyone who isn't done is out of luck. That's time." Hirito says closing his book and setting it down. Most of the kids began standing and collecting their stuff. Some leave, and one stays sitting in his desk, writing fast. *Ding* *Ding* Hirito stands, walking over to the last remaining kid in the classroom.
"Eugene." Hirito says. Eugene doesn't look up.
"That was time." Hirito adds.
"I know, just a minute more, almost done." He is frantically writing, though it's almost impossible to read. Hirito slowly pulls the test out from under the pencil, Eugene continues to write on it as it's being pulled away.
"Damnit. I was almost done." Eugene says, throwing himself back in his chair.
"Language." Hirito says as he walks back to his desk with the test. He sets it on top of the stack and sits back in his chair.
"You were rushing. Your mind is fluttered and doesn't react correctly when rushing. I'm sure you got that one wrong anyways." Hirito says, grabbing the stack and beginning to sort through it.
"I got it right. I just was trying to write fast, I was calm though, Teach'." Eugene responds, leaning back in his chair.
"Sit correctly in my chairs." Hirito says, never looking up from the test. He is writing on it with a red pen.
"Whatever." Eugene sits forward, "School is dumb anyways."
"Why's that?" Hirito responds.
"Because, it doesn't actually teach anything useful. Not like we're gonna use this in the real world." Eugene says, scoffing and looking outside. They are on the third story, a giant city can be seen out in the distance. Large trees with vibrant pink leaves stand tall, almost blocking the view. The leaves silently waver back and forth in the wind. Hirito sets the pen down to the side of the stack, and looks up at Eugene.
"Do you believe you won't need school because of your powers?" Hirito asks, his expression still void of emotion.
"Wh- How did you-?" Eugene is shocked. He looks directly at Hirito.
"I've seen you practicing on the roof sometimes."
"Oh." *Ding* *Ding* Silence engulfs the room as the bell sound dissipates from their ears.
"Do you believe the way you're acting is right? The Originals all went to school. Two of them went to this school." Hirito's expression remains the same, but he sits back in his chair.
"They didn't use any of this. They just whooped the ass of The One. They took on millions, with just the five of them! They were so cool!" Eugene begins throwing punches at the air and dodging and weaving invisible attacks. Hirito's expression remains unchanged, but something flickered in his eyes—a shadow of something darker, buried beneath years of silence. He blinked, clearing the vision of blood that had momentarily clouded his thoughts.
"Language. Do you believe that power is enough?" Hirito asks, his voice shaky for a second, but sharp. "Makes all of this," -he gestures towards the classroom- "meaningless?" Eugene takes a step back, stunned.
"Well.. yeah. How would you know anyways? You're just some teacher! Probably don't even have a gift." Eugene stands in the doorway for a second, he laughs, but it's thinner now, more unsure. He throws one last look at Hirito. "Stick to teachin, teach'. Cause you couldn't hurt a fly if ya wanted!" Eugene turns and exits quickly, almost too quickly.
"Guess so." Hirito mumbles before letting out a quiet sigh and rubbing his temples for a second. He picks back up the pen and resumes grading the tests.