Creation Of All Things

As the group moved through the academy grounds, Joshua walked up beside Adam, glancing at the unfamiliar face among them.

"So, who's the new guy?" Joshua asked, his tone casual.

Adam, leading the group, didn't even turn as he replied, "His name is Mael."

"The name's Mael," Mael added, offering a slight nod to Joshua.

Joshua looked him over once before shrugging. "Alright then." He didn't say anything more, but something about Mael made him feel a little off. He couldn't quite place it, so he just kept walking.

A few moments later, Adam shifted his gaze to Joshua. "Have you figured out your abilities yet? Or at least figured out why the Origin Academy accepted you?"

Joshua let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not yet. I tried everything—ran simulations in my dorm, put myself in dangerous situations, even hoped I'd suddenly grow wings or something." He shook his head. "Nothing happened."

Adam frowned slightly at that. He turned his eyes toward Aurora, who immediately felt his gaze on her. She met his eyes with an annoyed look, already knowing what he was about to say.

"You can see the future," Adam said. "Why don't you just tell us how he awakens his abilities? I highly doubt the Origin Academy would bring in someone completely ordinary."

"Wait… he doesn't have any abilities?" Mael asked, his face betraying his shock.

"Wasn't that obvious?" Aurora said, crossing her arms. She didn't even try to hide the irritation in her voice. Something about Mael's presence rubbed her the wrong way.

Adam noticed the tension but didn't comment on it. Right now, his focus was on Joshua.

"Don't worry about it," Adam finally said. "If the academy let you in, then there's something in you that's worth keeping. We'll figure it out soon enough."

Joshua nodded, but deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.

Joshua let out a deep breath, nodding as he tried to shake off his frustration.

"Guess I'll just have to wait and see, huh?" he muttered.

Adam didn't respond immediately. He just kept walking, hands in his pockets, eyes distant. Then, after a few seconds, he spoke.

"No."

Joshua blinked. "Huh?"

"You won't just wait and see. That's not how this works," Adam said, glancing at him. "The power's in you somewhere, and if you can't bring it out, then I'll force it out."

Joshua felt a chill run down his spine. He wasn't sure if Adam was joking or not.

"You sound like you're about to throw me off a cliff," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Adam didn't smile.

"That's actually not a bad idea," he said.

Joshua stiffened. "Wait—"

Before he could react, Adam raised a hand, and in an instant, reality twisted. The entire group disappeared, and when Joshua opened his eyes again, he was standing at the edge of a massive cliff, wind roaring in his ears.

"What the hell?!" Joshua stumbled back from the edge, heart racing.

Aurora sighed, arms crossed. "You really just teleported us here, huh?"

Mael, on the other hand, looked intrigued, watching Adam closely.

Adam stepped forward, looking down at Joshua.

"If you really don't have an ability," he said, "then you'll die when you hit the ground."

Joshua's face paled. "Wait—hold on—"

"But," Adam continued, ignoring him, "if you do have something hidden inside you… then this should wake it up."

Before Joshua could argue, Adam placed a single finger on his forehead—

And pushed.

Joshua's scream echoed as he plummeted off the cliff.

The wind howled in Joshua's ears as he tumbled through the air, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.

This is insane!

He flailed his arms, panic taking over. The ground was coming up fast. Too fast.

"Adam, you crazy bastard!!" he screamed.

Up above, Adam watched, arms still crossed. "If he's really powerless, he'll die," he murmured. "But that's impossible. The Origin Academy wouldn't accept him if he had nothing."

Aurora sighed. "You do realize that if you're wrong, you just murdered him, right?"

Adam shrugged. "Then that just means he was useless."

Mael smirked, clearly entertained. "Brutal. I like it."

Joshua, meanwhile, was still falling—seconds away from splattering against the jagged rocks below.

No, no, no—

Something inside him snapped.

His vision blurred. His body burned. His heartbeat slowed, the panic fading away—replaced by something else.

Power.

His instincts took over.

His hands stretched out, and in an instant, the air around him twisted. Reality itself seemed to bend around his body, shimmering like a mirage. The force of his fall vanished, and he stopped—floating just inches above the rocks.

For a moment, silence.

Then Joshua's eyes widened. "What the hell?"

Above, Adam smirked. "There it is."

Aurora's eyes glowed faintly as she observed him. "Interesting… It's not flight. It's something else."

Joshua slowly rose into the air, his body moving effortlessly, like gravity had lost its hold on him. He wasn't flapping any wings—he wasn't even trying. It was as if space itself was adjusting for him.

He landed gently on the cliffside, eyes still wide with shock.

"I… I just…" He looked at his hands, then at Adam. "What did you do to me?!"

Adam just grinned. "I didn't do anything. You did."

Joshua gulped. "So… what is this?"

Aurora smirked. "Looks like we found your ability."

Mael whistled. "Not bad. Thought you were dead for a second there."

Joshua was still catching his breath, but deep down, he couldn't deny it.

This power… felt right.

"You only did that because you knew I'd stop you if it would actually kill him," Aurora said, her gaze fixed on Adam.

Adam didn't even look at her—his eyes were still on Joshua, who was soaring through the air, laughing like a kid with a new toy.

"Pretty much," Adam admitted, a smirk creeping onto his face. "You didn't stop me, so I figured my method would work."

Aurora sighed, crossing her arms. "You're insane."

Adam chuckled. "And yet, I'm always right."