The wind, a constant, whispering companion, tugged at Zazm's slightly back hair. It wasn't truly black, more like the shadow of black, catching the faint starlight and reflecting it with a dull sheen.
He lay sprawled on the short, coarse grass of the mountain's peak, the chill of the earth seeping through his thin shirt.
Above him, the midnight sky was a vast, inky canvas, scattered with the diamond-dust of countless stars.
He didn't shiver, not from the cold, anyway. A different kind of chill settled within him, a familiar emptiness that mirrored the vastness above and a heavy burden.
His black eyes, usually sharp and observant, were wide and unfocused, lost in the swirling patterns of the constellations. He wasn't tracing their familiar shapes, wasn't trying to decipher their ancient stories. Tonight, he just watched.
The silence was profound, broken only by the sighing wind and the distant, rhythmic chirping of crickets in the valley below.
There was no one else here, just Zazm and the boundless expanse of the night. He felt small, insignificant, a tiny speck against the backdrop of infinity.
A shooting star streaked across the sky, a fleeting burst of light that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
He didn't make a wish, didn't even blink. He simply watched, his black eyes absorbing the light, the darkness, the sheer, overwhelming loneliness of it all. "A shooting star, huh? I've heard if you made a wish it'll come true."
The mountain was his refuge, his silent confidant, the only place where he could truly be alone with his thoughts, with the weight of a world he didn't quite understand.
He laid there, unmoving, a dark silhouette against the pale, starlit grass, until the first faint blush of dawn began to paint the horizon.
"It seems like I've been here for a quite a while now, better to go home and rest now." Zazm slowly stood up and dusted his clothes, he put a hand through his hair throwing it backwards.
"Alrighty, let's get going." Zazm started walking deeper into the place and came across the abandoned building, he carefully inspected his surroundings making sure there was no one in sight.
He closed his eyes and his focus peaked after a few seconds of being a statue he opened his eyes that now looked completely different.
His once white sclrea was now completely black, it was dark that it seemed like it'll pull anyone in it, his pupils were replaced by a beautiful and intricate design of a hourglass and other lines, it was the shadow of his mark.
He lifted his hand in the air and slowly threads begin flowing out of it, they started surrounding a small area rotating in circles, a few seconds passed and now the circle was filled with several threads.
"Now all that's left is to," Zazm went closer and the once circle of threads now become an otherworldly portal. A soft smile appeared on Zazm's face admiring the beauty of the portal and his own powers.
He walked through the portal and found himself in his house, he turned back to make sure the portal had vanished and after he checked it he plopped down on his bed. Just as he lay down a sunray fell on his eye from the side of curtain.
"Man, it's already morning? I'm not going to school." Zazm spoke in an irritated tone and took refuge under his pillow, he was about to fall asleep when a sudden thought came into his mind.
"Wait....when are the exams again?" He quickly got up and started looking around his room to find his bag.
"Where the hell is it?" He went into the living room and found the bag laying around on the table, he quickly picked it up and took the time table out.
After looking at timetable a sigh of relief escaped Zazm's lips, "Thank God, there are still 2 months."
He threw the timetable back inside the bag and jumped on the couch and that's where he gave up, he fell into his deep slumber.
---
"Yoo Nox is Zazm not coming today either?" Jahanox turned around to find Leo running towards him in a hurry, Jahanox lifted his hand up to hit him a high five.
"Nah man, you know him he's a little busy." Jahanox told Leo in the same carefreely irritated tone and they both continued to walk to school while laughing and talking.
"But do you know what's he been UpTo? We only have 2 months left before the highschool ends," Leo adjusted his clothes before entering the school gate while continuing his conversation with Jahanox.
Jahanox also walked carefreely with his hands in his pocket, "Man, you're right only 2 more months before we will have to find a college, entrance exam....it's gonna be pretty busy then."
Leo smacked Jahanox on the back of his neck in a playful way, "Chill out there is still time." He spoke in a playful tone.
Jahanox also let out a laugh, "Yeah you're correct but let's hurry up otherwise we will become laughing stock by that punishment."
Leo's face turned dark and his expression became irritated, "Yeah I completely forgot let's hurry up to the class."
---
"As you all may already know starting next week's your exams are starting, it's mendatory for all the students to attend it and this will affect your college entrance exams as well. So, make sure you're all prepared."
The teacher finished his speech, he was a middle aged man in his late thirties, his hair a shade of grayish black, he wore a casual Coat along with a loose pant.
Jahanox stretched his arms and quickly picked his bag up and walked to the last bench where a guy with slightly long hair slept peacefully, Jahanox smacked the back of his head, "Yoo Zazm get your ass up he is already gone."
Zazm waved Jahanox a hand, "Get lost Nova, let me sleep." Zazm spoke in a sleepy tone without even moving from his sleeping position.
A vein popped up in Nova's head, 'This Guy'. He thought to himself how can he kill him perfectly without anyone noticing but quickly gave up on the idea.
"Don't you wanna go today?" Jahanox spoke in a playful tone and hearing that Zazm also looked up to him, "Ah, I completely forgot, let's go."
Zazm also picked up his bag and both of them exited the classroom, they walked behind the school building and then went into the storage, "this place doesn't even feel like a part of school."
Zazm spoke in a mocking way, Nova nodded his head in agreement and started walking down the stairs Zazm also followed him from behind.
"Ok Zazm do your thing." Nova pointed both fingers at Zazm giving him a type of signal Zazm took out his right hand, the hand with the mark on it out of his pocket.
He lifted it in the air and just as he was about to open a portal, "Oh, Zazm and Nova? Whatcha two doing here?" Zazm looked on his shoulder to find a hand.
He jumped back trying to create a distance, "Jeez Rina I thought that was some ghost." Zazm put his hands on his chest trying to act all scared.
"hahaha very funny but what are you two doing here?" Rina questioned Zazm and Nova with a suspicious looks, it made Nova a little flustered but Zazm managed to kept his cool.
Nova spoke in a slightly shaking tone, "We-We were just looking for you.... Yes."
Zazm gave Nova a death stare and he quickly understood what that stare meant, that stare only meant one thing and that was 'You fucked it up.'
Zazm quickly spoke in his same carefree voice trying to cover the blunder of his friend, "Ah Rina you see..." But before he could say anything Rina continued.
"Oh wait did the teacher send you? Well thank you this was too much stuff for a lone girl like me to carry." She pointed them towards some cardboard boxes and Zazm quickly jumped at the opportunity.
"Yes, you're right lets hurry up since I have to go home." Zazm took his other hand out of his pocket aswell and picked up the biggest box and started carrying it outside.
Nova also picked up a box and got out with Rina, they continued walking and then Rina spoke, "You know you both have been weird these past 2 years?"
Zazm and Nova looked at her simultaneously with a confused look etched on their faces, Zazm smiled and asked her in a playful tone, "Oh do enlighten us great Miss Rina."
Rina chuckled slightly at Zazm's remark, "Well, for one you out of nowhere started learning to fight and Nova suddenly become way too social and well....you both just changed alot. Now don't get wrong it's better this way."
Nova also laughed softly, "Perhaps you're right we all change with time for better or worst."
The three continued to walk till they reached the staff room and put the boxes down.
"Thanks alot for making my life a little easier." Rina spoke wiping the sweat off her forehead, Zazm saw this as a perfect opportunity to have some fun.
"Ofcourse our pleasure but it wasn't for free, how about you treat us to some something now?" Rina grinned at Zazm's words, "Still the same dipshit you are huh?"
Zazm simply shrugged, "Didn't you just said we've changed?" Rina also shrugged and waved a hand dismissively, "Fine Fine Mr Greed I'll treat you both follow me."
Zazm paused and spoke with his same carefree smile, "Oh not today, apologies but...." Zazm suddenly made a sober expression and acted a little sad.
Rine noticed it and asked him, "Hey everything alright?" Zazm slowly walked closed to Nova and put a hand on his shoulder, Nova looked at Zazm in confusion but before he can say something Zazm opened his mouth.
"You see Nova's grandfather passed away, we have to go there now." He spoke in a soft voie hearing this Rina suddenly become considerate too, "I'm so sorry I kept you both here, ok I'll treat you some other time."
"I'm so sorry we couldn't stay longer but my grandfather's funeral is more important," Nova spoke in a sad voice too making the once false statement a more natural truth.
They both acted sad and quietly walked out of the school and started walking silently. Zazm looked at Nova and Nova stared at him back with a smile.
Zazm let out a dry laugh and Nova also dryly smiled and suddenly Nova crouched down and picked a stick off from the ground. "WHO DIED AGAIN?"
Zazm after seeing the stick quickly started running away, his speed was no joke form all the capoeira he had gotten way faster but Nova wasn't slow either he had also been practicing.
"I'M SORRYYY THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY." Zazm shouted back at Nova trying to make him stop but Nova threw the stick and it went and hit Zazm straight In the head, and Zazm fell down.
"Ok Ok stop that's enough." Zazm spoke and lifted his hands accepting defeat, a smirk appeared on their faces and Nova continued to walk past Zazm.
"Forget it let's go we don't have all that time," Zazm also smirked and got up dusting his clothes and they both walked in an empty street. Zazm lifted his hand and the same mark appeared in his eyes as he opened the portal.
Both of them went through it and reached the same abandoned place on the mountain, this had been there training place for past 2 months now, everyday after school they'll come here and practice.
Zazm threw his back in a corner and started warming up, "Ok, let's get ready."
Nova took out a stopwatch from his pocket and shouted towards Zazm, "Yoo are you going full this time?"
Zazm nodded and lifted 3 fingers, he slowly closed one finger and 2 finger remained he closed one more and Zazm carefully looked at his hand.
Just as he closed the last finger he pressed the button on stopwatch and Zazm disappeared, he reappeared on a far side of mountain, he disappeared again and reappeared at another distant part of the place.
He continued to disappear and reappear and Nova quietly noticed his movements, he got bored in a few second and turned around and blew a whistle.
And just as he did that a huge bear emerged from behind the trees, the bear let out a growl and Nova went close to it and started petting it, he jumped on the bear's back and continued to watch Zazm.
He looked into the stopwatch and he saw that there were only 10 seconds left in 5 mins he quickly lifted his hand in the air indicating Zazm to stop.
Zazm appeared Infront of Nova and his bear covered in sweat he heavily breathed, his eyes covered his mark he asked Nova, "How many?"
Nova smirked and clapped, "Congratulations you just broke your record you teleported 256 times in 5 mins."
A smirk appeared on Zazm's face, as he plopped down, "Man controlling time while teleporting is so hard."
"But hey you succeeded you can now control the time of a small area and that gives you enough time to teleport instantly. That's a huge advancement considering we've been doing for only 2 months."
"Perhaps you're right. But.... Would you mind explaining why this bear is here again?" Zazm looked at the bear and then back at Nova who tilted his head in confusion.
"From past two weeks everyday you either mind control a new animal or make them love you by adding fake memories that's not a good thing to do" Zazm finished in a frustrated tone.
Nova layed down on the back of his bear, "Hey I gotta train my powers too and beside when are you going to tell me what my actual power is?" He spoke in the same carefree voice.
Zazm pulled his hair back removing them from his eyes, "The exams start from Monday once they are over we will do that."
They both stayed silent for a second before Nova said, "But hey are you confident you can find them this time."
A smirk appeared on Zazm face at this and he threw a can directly at Nova that hit him in the face, "Ofcourse I can control both time and space now."
Nova quickly got up holding his face where the can hit he quickly picked it up again, "YOU" and he threw it back at Zazm with double force but the can stopped at a few inches away from Zazm's face.
Zazm smiled and tilted his head with one eye closed. He had learned to control when this mark appeares in his eyes or not. If he makes it appear in one eye the effect would be less but it would still work so he used that.
Nova got even more pissed at Zazm's smile and he gazed at the huge bear he was sitting and a smirk appeared on his face. The bar quickly got up and attack Zazm with his claw.
Zazm quickly got up and raised his guard and this time he opened mark in both his eyes dodging the attack at last second, "Oh so now you're trying to kill me?" He spoke in a frightened tone.
They both laughed sillily at their jokes and Zazm sat down too. "Once exams are over let's see what happens." Zazm spoke his voice barely above a whisper.
Nova looked down at Zazm but decided not to ask what he said and they both just sat there.
__________________________