《Gift Zero》 Chapter 1 - The beginning of everything [Astrid''s POV] I was still trying to understand what had gone through my head to accept that. Mira, as always, didn''t seem the least bit impressed, as if nothing could shake her calm. In fact, she never seemed impressed by anything, which, to be honest, was nothing new. Mira had always had this almost annoying ability to seem oblivious to the chaos around her. She was the kind of person who could be in the middle of a fire and still not change her expression. I could picture her perfectly, in the middle of the flames, with that carefree look that said something like: ¡°Oh, look, everything''s really on fire.¡± It was impossible not to wonder what was going on in her head - or if anything was. ¡°Mira, to be honest, I''m still trying to figure out what I came to the boardroom to do with you.¡± I muttered, while keeping my voice low, even though no one was listening. Mira arched an eyebrow, and a subtle, almost imperceptible smile appeared on her lips. ¡°It was a simple decision. Since I''m the class representative and I needed someone to support me, you, my best friend, were the first person I thought of.¡± Mira not only failed to answer my question as I''d hoped, she also made a point of winding up the conversation. ¡°Support you in what?¡± I retorted, casting her a look of incredulity. ¡°Don''t tell me you''re in trouble again?¡± ¡°Oh, come on, Astrid!¡± Mira rolled her eyes, as if it was all a big joke. ¡°I didn''t do anything wrong. The principal just called me into his office for some reason, but I''m sure it''s nothing serious. Trust me.¡± I frowned, still skeptical. Mira had this tendency to make everything seem simpler than it really was. ¡°I really hope you know what you''re doing.¡± I commented, trying to hide the concern in my voice. ¡°Of course I do. And when have I ever gotten us into any trouble?¡± Her confident tone only served to increase my apprehension. If there was one person who attracted trouble without realizing it, it was Mira.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Astrid, relax.¡± Mira added, flashing that smile that managed to be reassuring and, at the same time, irritating in an inexplicable way. We were walking through the corridors towards Principal Arden''s office. Despite his frail appearance, marked by age, he still managed to emanate an undeniable authority. He was known for being kind and fair, but also stern when necessary. His demeanor left no doubt that he did not tolerate disrespect or disorder, which made many fear him. However, for those lucky enough to know him more closely, Arden was a good soul. He knew how to listen and had surprising patience, even with the most problematic students. He was the kind of person who, with a look or a simple word, could convey both a firm rebuke and sincere encouragement. ¡°Do you think he''s angry?¡± I asked, trying to disguise my nervousness as my footsteps echoed down the corridor. ¡°Angry? At me? Of course not.¡± Mira replied, with her usual confidence that seemed unshakable. ¡°The principal likes me.¡± I watched her, trying to understand where all this certainty came from. How could she be so... calm? Beside me, my stomach churned at the thought of what might happen when we entered that room. On the way, several people greeted us, and Mira smiled openly at them, waving quickly. It was almost automatic, her gesture, as if she had rehearsed every social interaction over the years. Although Mira was ''polite'' to everyone who spoke to her, a doubt arose in my mind. Had they not yet realized that that smile was fake and forced? As always, she did the bare minimum to appear approachable, but I knew the truth. Having known each other since childhood, I already knew her true character. Mira had the ability to make everyone around her believe that she was the most sociable person in the world, but I knew her better. I knew that, behind that fake smile and friendly fa?ade, there was a girl who was much more reserved, even a little suspicious. Not that she was a bad person - far from it. Mira was just... different. She had an almost obsessive passion for fighting, something she viewed almost as a hobby. What''s more, her love of heavy rock was unmistakable - the kind of music that made the most sensitive cover their ears in despair. The truth is that, at our school, Mira was so famous and admired that everyone deified her, treating her like one of the Miss Beauties. And I, who was always by her side, ended up, almost without realizing it, gaining a piece of that fame. Just like me, who hated that title, Mira didn''t give a damn either, being as indifferent as I was. For her, the applause and attention were just part of the game, something she accepted out of sheer convenience, but without ever letting it get to her. We weren''t the popular girls, and we weren''t the girls who lived to be noticed or adored by anyone. But for the rest of the school, that''s exactly what we were, and no matter how hard we tried to ignore it, it ended up defining us in some way. The thoughts were fading from my mind when I realized that we had finally reached our destination. I stretched out my arm and was about to knock on the surface of the door, but stopped when I realized that it was already ajar, letting some voices escape from inside. They were almost certainly the principal''s. He was talking to someone, and something in the way he expressed himself made me hesitate. Whenever someone else arrived to meet with him, the conversation took a more serious, more... formal turn. I didn''t know whether to interrupt or wait. The last thing I wanted was to walk in on an important conversation. ¡°Are you going to tell us what really happened, or am I going to have to force an explanation out of you?¡± I heard Principal Arden''s voice, which didn''t sound friendly at all. I didn''t know who he was talking to, but I was pretty sure that this person was in trouble. Chapter 2 - The mysterious student ¡°I told you, nothing happened, I just fell.¡± It wasn''t the director''s voice, that much I knew for sure. It was a low, almost muffled tone, but it carried a strange weight, as if he was avoiding revealing more than he should. Despite this, there was something about the way those words were said - ¡°I just fell¡± - that seemed forced, disconnected from the truth. Whoever it was, they didn''t seem to be there of their own free will. Mira raised an eyebrow when she heard the phrase, visibly curious, but showed no hesitation. With the usual disdain of someone who doesn''t seem to care about anything, Mira pushed the door open just enough for us to peek inside. ¡°What do you mean, you just fell?¡± This time, the voice we heard seemed to be that of a girl, probably Mira''s sister Lysa, who was the school nurse''s aide. ¡°The answer is simple: I got off balance and fell, that''s all.¡± He answered again, without any emotion in his voice. Lysa, still incredulous at what the boy had said, decided to ask again, but this time with an air of doubt. ¡°Are you really serious?¡± This time, the boy didn''t say anything; he just nodded, confirming everything that both Mira''s sister and the principal had been asking. The director, already visibly impatient and anxious for an answer, let out a short sigh and repeated the question. This time, even I, who was standing outside the door, hiding with Mira, was curious to know what had really happened. After all, it seemed incredible that the boy had chosen to face a scolding rather than reveal the truth. The boy was still standing there, facing the principal, with a posture that made it clear he had no intention of speaking. His eyes were fixed on the floor, as if he didn''t want to face anyone - and suddenly the silence was broken by a deep breath from Principal Arden. ¡°Do you really think we''re going to fall for this?¡± Director Arden''s tone was calm, but charged with a controlled frustration. He didn''t seem like the kind of person who would let a matter like that pass without a clearer explanation, and clearly something was wrong. For a brief moment, through the gaps in the ajar door, I saw Lysa lean in slightly, as if she was about to say something important. Her expression seemed hesitant, almost anxious, but before any words could escape her lips, the boy''s response interrupted her, leaving everyone stunned.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°I''m not forcing you to believe anything, but I''m not here to prove anything to anyone either.¡± I thought to myself: if that slap already hurt me, who had nothing to do with the conversation, imagine the principal and Mira''s sister, who were the direct targets. However, something that really caught my attention was that, even with that incisive response, I couldn''t perceive any malice in it. On the contrary, the speech continued without any emotion, which made it difficult to understand whether the boy really wanted to provoke or whether he was just being realistic. After receiving that dry response, the director probably realized that, no matter how hard he pressed the boy, he wouldn''t get a word out of him. Already exhausted from the conversation, Arden let out a long sigh, showing his fatigue. Mira, standing a little ahead of me in front of the ajar door, let out a soft sigh - a rare indication that she too was intrigued. ¡°That''s an interesting one.¡± She whispered, with a half-smile that I couldn''t fully interpret. It was hard to tell whether she was impressed, amused by the situation or just curious. I didn''t reply. My eyes were still fixed on the crack in the door as I tried to decipher what was going on. Director Arden crossed his arms, his countenance firm, but without losing his cool. ¡°Sid, if you''re not willing to give us an explanation, it''s going to be difficult to help you.¡± His voice low, but carrying a weight that only someone with years of experience could convey, Arden commented. ¡°But let me be clear: my priority is the well-being of the students at this school. If something has happened - whatever it is - and you''re afraid to speak up, we can deal with it together. Do you understand?¡± When Principal Arden asked the question calmly, trying to win the boy''s trust, I realized that he was still on the defensive and only answered what he thought was necessary. ¡°I understand.¡± He finally replied, his voice lower than before, but not as distant as the first time. ¡°But there''s nothing to tell. I fell. That''s all.¡± Lysa, who didn''t believe a word the boy said, nevertheless showed growing patience. She leaned in again, and her voice, although controlled, carried a tone of frustration that was hard to disguise. ¡°Don''t you understand that we''re trying to help? There''s no point in hiding behind this headless story!¡± When Mira and I realized that the conversation had come to an end and that they were about to leave the room, we looked around quickly. It was then that Mira decided to knock on the door, as if we wanted them to think we had just arrived. As soon as we heard confirmation that we could enter from inside the principal''s office, we exchanged a quick glance to pull ourselves together and, without further ado, entered the room. Once inside the room, I saw the director sitting in his chair, behind a desk, in a rather funny scene. Only his head was visible. When I saw that image, I almost burst out laughing, but then I remembered what happened the last time I did that and decided to restrain myself. I looked at Mira, who was also trying to hold in her laughter, but her lips were curving upwards, clearly trying to hide her impulse. Principal Arden, unaware of our exchange of glances, remained completely focused on the boy in front of him, who at no time showed any sign of being intimidated by our presence. To Principal Arden''s right was Lysa, Mira''s younger sister, with a worried expression. Chapter 3 - The Gifts While the principal was doing everything, he could to get the boy to talk, I took a quick look at him. It was enough to realize that I didn''t know him and didn''t even know that he studied here at our school. And I know almost all the students here, thanks to Mira and her sister. For me not to recognize someone, he either had a very discreet presence, or he practically didn''t have one. However, it wasn''t his appearance that caught my attention - which, by the way, was quite ordinary: black hair, short and messy, with dark brown eyes that didn''t bring anything very special at first glance. But what really worried me, and probably caused Mira''s sister distress, was the state he was in. His clothes were almost all in rags, as if they had been torn in a fight or during a desperate escape. In addition, red stains - unmistakable and disturbing - covered several spots on the fabric, making it all too clear what they were. The worst thing, however, was not the clothes or the stains, but the marks on his body. There were burns scattered over almost the entire visible length of her skin, some still reddened, as if they were fresh, while others looked older, healing unevenly. Just looking at it, something inside me contracted, a shiver running up my spine. How can someone get into such a state? What could have happened to him to bring him to this? Before anyone had a chance to say anything, the same boy, who until that moment had cared little about our presence, answered the principal without a hint of emotion. His indifference, which in a way didn''t bother us, seemed to have touched Mira. After all, although she was bothered by the idolatry of the others, who treated her as if she were a goddess, something about the way he ignored her ended up arousing a certain interest. ¡°If that''s all, with your permission, I''ll leave.¡± Without saying another word, he turned and left the room without even looking at us. And we were practically next to the door. I''m not going to lie, that aroused a curiosity in me, a desire to know who that boy was. Before I could ask anything, Mira, as if reading my thoughts, asked exactly the same question I was about to ask. ¡°Who is he?¡± Mira asked, in a softer voice than usual, but still flashing that sweet smile that many didn''t realize was fake.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. As soon as Mira asked that question, Principal Arden let out a sigh, about to answer her. However, her sister interrupted him, answering instead. I could tell that the poor old man didn''t like the situation very much. Lysa, with her calm and controlled manner, stepped forward and gave Principal Arden a quick glance before speaking. ¡°Sid V¨¡mirion¡± Unable to contain herself any longer, Lysa replied and went straight to hug her sister. I, who was a little curious to know more about that boy, decided to make a comment in the hope that Mira''s sister, or perhaps even the director, would tell me more details. ¡°Is it just me, or is he not very... how can I put it without sounding mean? Sociable?¡± I asked sarcastically, as if it were just a joke, while trying, almost imperceptibly, to disguise the interest I felt. Lysa gave a brief smile, but her eyes remained serious, as if she was pondering how to answer my question. Mira, still in her arms, watched carefully, and the silence in the room seemed to stretch on, as if everyone knew that the answer that would come would not be simple. As I had imagined, the answer came, but not from Mira''s sister. It came from the principal, who, after letting out a deep sigh, looked at me. ¡°It''s not just you...¡± After the announcement, the director let out a low, tired sigh, then ran his hand through his beard in an almost reflexive way. ¡°He''s really not much of a mixer, but he''s a good kid. He''s going through a difficult time, though...¡± The director added, his soft voice laden with a sincerity that surprised me. And once again, as if reading my thoughts, Mira asked exactly the same question I was about to ask. ¡°A difficult time?¡± Mira asked in a calm tone, still trying to disguise her interest in the subject. I couldn''t help but find this very strange. After all, Mira had never shown any interest in anything, let alone anyone. Seeing that curiosity, however discreet, in relation to a boy was something totally out of the ordinary for her, something I hadn''t expected at all. Anyone who saw that conversation would certainly find it very funny, because every time one started, the other would jump in, as if it were a rotation. And once again, on this occasion, it was no different. The director finished what he was saying, but without explaining exactly what difficult phase the boy was going through. It was then that Mira''s sister, Lysa, added to what he hadn''t said. ¡°As well as this difficult phase he''s going through, it''s becoming more and more obvious that he''s being bullied, which only makes things worse. As if that weren''t enough, he''s also a Gift Zero.¡± Okay, I definitely wasn''t expecting that... What was the chance of someone being born as a Gift Zero? One in a million. In the world we lived in, people who were born with special gifts were not only admired, but also revered. These people were called ''Gifts'', and this meant something far beyond simple ability. It was a status, almost like a mark of nobility, that put them on a pedestal, set apart from others. The Gifts were considered the elite of society, the holders of unique powers that made them special, almost immortal in the eyes of the majority. At our school, all the students had at least some kind of ability or power. It was the norm. Those without any gifts, the so-called Gift Zeroes, were treated very differently: often ignored and, in many cases, ridiculed. Chapter 4 - The First Impression [Mira''s POV] For some reason that I couldn''t explain, that boy had managed something that no one had managed in a long time: to get my attention. That in itself was strange enough. After all, it wasn''t in my nature to take an interest in someone I barely knew, let alone try to get close to. The simple fact that he wasn''t part of our group, in theory, should have caused me to ignore him. At least, that''s what I used to do with almost everyone who tried to approach me. My indifference was almost a rule; interacting with those outside my world was never a priority. But there was something about him. Something that made me want to look again. The sensation was irritating. It wasn''t attraction - I was sure of that. It was something else. Curiosity? Maybe. But why? There was nothing special about him. Still, something about him didn''t leave me alone. And, as it turned out, it wasn''t just me. Astrid seemed to feel the same way, although she tried to disguise it. I knew her well enough to notice. She was restless, as if she wanted to ask something. And, all said and done, before I could say anything, she stepped forward and spoke first. ¡°So... you''re telling me that he ''fell'' on the very first day of school?¡± Astrid asked in a slightly sarcastic tone, which, it seemed to me, went unnoticed by the principal. ¡°At least, that''s what he''s saying.¡± My sister replied, with a calmness that sounded almost innocent, without realizing Astrid''s sarcastic tone. After hearing that answer, Astrid let out a discreet sigh, cast a quick glance at the ceiling and commented with a slight irony. ¡°Wow, what an unlucky guy...¡± I almost smiled at her comment, but I was more worried about what was behind it. The boy... what had led him to fall in such a way? ¡°Headmaster... which class did he fall into?¡± I asked, trying to show as little interest as possible, although the feeling of curiosity was still nagging at me. The principal looked at me for a moment, as if evaluating my question. He seemed to strive to maintain a serious countenance, but the expression in his eyes revealed something else - concern, perhaps, or a slight hesitation. ¡°At the table you... Class 1, Room 5.¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. His answer was direct, but the tone carried a weight I hadn''t expected. I was silent for a moment, trying to process the information. With that information in mind, a certain thought ended up popping into my head, and before I knew it, I had already said out loud what I was thinking. ¡°Perfect.¡± Without meaning to, I ended up letting those words come out louder than I wanted. Astrid looked at me with a curious expression, and the director seemed momentarily perplexed, as if the word didn''t fit with what he expected from an answer to something so serious. With so many eyes on me, I couldn''t help but feel a certain embarrassment. After all, it wasn''t like me to expose myself so much, especially to the point of revealing who I really was. However, something told me that this coincidence wasn''t just a coincidence, and I knew I couldn''t just ignore it. ¡°Why is that perfect?¡± Astrid asked with an arched eyebrow, clearly amused by my reaction. After hearing my ''friend''s'' question, the director turned and faced me with a serious look on his face. ¡°I''m also curious to know, why is this good news? Don''t tell me you''re planning something, Mira.¡± His question ended up sounding more serious than he intended, due to the expression he assumed. The seriousness in his voice made me realize that he was really worried, maybe even suspicious. It wasn''t often that I showed any interest in anything or anyone, but the fact that I was reacting in this way towards a boy, and without even knowing much about him, probably put him on alert. My eyes met Astrid''s, who was still smiling, as if to say to me: ''I didn''t do anything, now get on with it. I knew she wasn''t going to let that pass. ¡°I... I''m not planning anything. I just want to be friends, that''s all.¡± I tried to be confident in my words, but something in the way the director looked at me told me that he wasn''t completely convinced. Astrid, realizing that my plan wasn''t going very well, decided to give me a hand. ¡°Director...¡± As soon as Astrid managed to get Director Arden''s attention, I noticed that she let out a short sigh before continuing what she was about to say. ¡°What Mira said is true, we just want to get a little closer to him.¡± As soon as she said those words, Astrid quickly turned her eyes to me, as if to tell me that I now owed her a favor. As if that wasn''t enough, the principal decided to believe my friend rather than me, who was the class representative. I looked at Astrid, who seemed completely at ease with the situation, as if she already knew what she was going to do to get around it. Not only had she taken the lead in the conversation, but she also seemed to be amused by my discomfort. After all, my misfortune was her amusement. She knew exactly what to say to change the focus of the conversation, and now the director was completely distracted, his eyes fixed on her. ¡°That''s good, Sid really needs friends.¡± The director''s response turned out to be much less serious than when I had asked the question. How can this kind of treatment be possible? Shouldn''t I, the representative, be treated with more respect? Before I could express my displeasure at all this lack of trust, the school bell rang, as if it were a warning from beyond, interrupting any words I might say. After the bell rang, the principal looked at the watch on his wrist and, without giving any further explanation, threw us out of his classroom. ¡°Now that you know where your class is, you can go.¡± I sighed internally, annoyed at how quickly things had unfolded. The principal seemed to be satisfied with Astrid''s explanation, while I, as class representative, was left with the feeling that my word didn''t carry the weight it should. How come he believed her more than me? It was a simple question, but the way he behaved made me feel that he had somehow underestimated my intentions. Chapter 5 - The Other Face of Mira After saying goodbye to the principal, I hurried out of the room, trying to hide the blush on my face. All because I had managed the incredible feat of forgetting why he had called me. (How could I have forgotten that I was the representative and that he''d called me to let me know which room I''d fallen into?) I thought to myself as I reprimanded myself. And to make matters worse, Astrid was still here with me. If she remembered what I''d said before we arrived, she''d have no doubt that she''d start filling me in until we got to the room. And, as if by magic, that''s exactly what happened. [Astrid''s POV] As we walked towards the room the principal had told us about, I watched Mira out of the corner of my eye. She was strangely quiet, which was a clear sign that something was bothering her. I knew my friend well; her way of avoiding eye contact, her hurried steps... everything indicated that she was trying to hide something. I chose not to press her right away, but my curiosity wasn''t going to leave me alone for long. After a few seconds of silence, a memory of what she had said to me earlier popped into my head. ¡°Mira, wait a minute...¡± I began, my tone more casual than I had intended. ¡°Now that everything has been sorted out, I remembered something.¡± As soon as I said those words, she stopped for a second, but didn''t turn to face me. Then she continued walking, which only increased my suspicions even more. My suspicions became even clearer when Mira began to sound cold. ¡°What?¡± Mira turned to me with that sleepy smile I hated so much. The worst thing was that she knew it very well, so there was only one explanation: she was trying to calm me down with that smile and get me into the conversation. ¡°Don''t tell me you made all that drama just to tell me that the principal called you in just to tell you which room you''d fallen into?¡± I asked in a more serious tone, still trying not to believe that the answer to my question was really what I had feared. My friend, as well as being a dullard, seemed to be a bit slow too.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Surprise! Didn''t I tell you he liked me?¡± Mira answered my question with a light tone, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. But I knew exactly what she was trying to do: divert my attention so that I would forget the mistake she had made. As soon as I heard what she said, my eyes instantly turned cold. I looked at her sideways and, for a split second, a violent thought of strangling her right there flashed through my mind. I stopped walking, slowly turning towards her. The look I threw at her was icy, and deep down I knew that she realized how much her antics were beginning to wear me down. ¡°If you weren''t my friend, I would have killed you a long time ago.¡± My voice came out low, with a hint of menace that wasn''t completely true, but enough for Mira to realize that I was testing the limits. Although most of the time I wanted to be angry with her for some reason, I couldn''t. In response to my comment, Mira didn''t even blink. Instead, she walked up to me and put her arm around my neck. As if that wasn''t enough, she still had that sleepy smile on her face, a unique way that only she could pull off. It was almost annoying how carefree she seemed, even in the face of the whole situation. ¡°But I know you love me.¡± Her answer came so naturally that I almost wanted to laugh, despite my irritation. Mira was exactly the kind of person you look at and think: If anything goes wrong, she''ll definitely be involved. And, as always, she had the gift of knowing exactly how to destabilize any argument I made, even when I was one step away from losing my temper. I sighed deeply, letting the irritation slide down my shoulders as I pushed Mira''s arm away from my neck. There was no point in prolonging the argument - I knew Mira loved to tease me, and I wasn''t going to give her that. ¡°Mira...¡± I began, trying to change the tone of the conversation as I shook my head, pretending to really give up. Before she had a chance to respond to my comment with another tease, I decided to change the subject. Apparently, it worked, since I managed to get her attention. She looked thoughtful, probably still reflecting on the new student. When I called her name, Mira turned to me, still with that sleepy smile on her face, which only made me certain that my patience had reached its limit. She looked at me with the same distracted expression as always. ¡°What?¡± Mira asked, still looking like she wasn''t paying attention to anything around her. I decided to ignore her detached attitude and change the subject before I really got stressed out and ended up saying something I didn''t want to. ¡°I''ve been curious about this since the principal''s office. But why do you want to become friends with that boy?¡± I asked, a little curious, as I watched Mira''s expression to see if she really meant it or just wanted a new toy. ¡°Friend... that''s too strong a word. It would be more like... having connections. Besides, don''t forget that he''s a lonely boy, which means he''s much easier to manipulate.¡± Mira''s response didn''t take me by surprise. After all, I had already imagined that she would say something like that, but hearing her say it with that smile of someone who thought everything was very normal almost made me laugh. ¡°Connections?¡± I repeated, trying to understand. ¡°Don''t tell me you''re going to put him in danger?¡± My voice came out slightly cynical, but I couldn''t help it. Mira always had a way of getting involved with people, but never for pure reasons. Chapter 6 - Confidential File Mira didn''t seem to be put off by the tone of suspicion in my voice. She just shrugged, as if she were explaining something totally trivial, as if what she was saying was the most normal thing in the world. ¡°Put him in danger? No, of course not.¡± Mira answered my question with a soft tone. ¡°I haven''t forgotten that the director likes him, so I''m not going to do anything bad to him. I''m just going to manipulate him into doing some jobs for me.¡± I watched her in silence for a moment, processing her words. ¡°Do you really think he''s going to fall for this?¡± I asked, trying to understand how far she was willing to go with that. She smiled with that usual confident look, as if nothing could ever shake her. ¡°Of course he''ll fall for it. No one can resist my friendly personality.¡± As soon as Mira answered my question, I opened my mouth, ready to respond. The words were already on the tip of my tongue. However, my sentence was interrupted when I felt a slight but uncomfortable burning in my nose. I frowned, confused, until I realized why: I had bumped into her. Mira had stopped suddenly, right in front of a door, without warning or giving any sign. I stood there for a moment, massaging my nose as I tried to decide whether the pain was worse than the irritation at her lack of warning. ¡°Next time, let me know when you''re going to stop out of the blue, Mira.¡± I complained, as I massaged my nose in an attempt to relieve the burning. Without caring about my complaint, she simply changed the subject, like the completely clueless person she always was. ¡°What do you think about us investigating that boy further?¡± Mira asked, not caring one bit about my irritation. I took a deep breath, trying to control my irritation while still rubbing my nose. Mira had this special talent for turning any situation into something absurdly irritating - and, worse, making it seem normal. ¡°Investigate?¡± I rebutted, arching an eyebrow as I stared at her. ¡°You mean pry into his life to find out things you can use to manipulate him faster, right?¡± As soon as I said that, Mira rolled her eyes in an exaggerated way, as if to say that my question had been absurd. ¡°Don''t exaggerate. It''s just curiosity. Aren''t you the least bit intrigued by him? The way the principal treated him, like he was special, and since when does someone fall on the first day of school? I bet there''s something there worth finding out.¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. I frowned, trying to keep my patience. After all, Mira always had this detached way about her that made everything so simple, but I knew exactly what she was getting at. Realizing that she was no longer paying attention to anything I said, I decided to remain silent. Mira then took a bunch of keys out of her backpack and opened the door. I followed her in silence to an iron cabinet, where each compartment had a label. I continued to watch her movements, still without saying anything, until she stopped in front of one of them, which had the inscription ''1-C''. ¡°Are you sure this is a good idea?¡± I asked, finally breaking the silence and interrupting her in the middle of what she was doing. After my question, Mira just glanced at me over her shoulder, still flashing that smile I hated so much. A smile that seemed to say: ''Why wouldn''t it be?'' As if what she was doing was the most normal thing in the world. ¡°Whether it''s a good idea, I don''t know. But helping out on the board once in a while has its advantages.¡± At that point, I had given up trying to understand her. ¡°You know what? I give up. If you''re saying it, then go ahead.¡± I commented, almost encouraging Mira to do what she was about to do. After all, trying to talk sense into her and telling her that it was wrong was apparently not going to work. After my comment, I saw Mira leafing through the files carefully, analyzing each folder. When she found what she was looking for, I noticed her expression change dramatically from excitement to indecipherable, as if she couldn''t understand what her eyes were seeing. ¡°Hey, what''s wrong? Did something happen, Mira?¡± I asked, uncomfortable with the sudden silence. She didn''t answer immediately, still absorbing the contents of the folder with an expression of surprise. ¡°That... that doesn''t make sense.¡± Mira muttered, almost to herself. ¡°What doesn''t make sense?¡± I repeated the question, my voice a little louder, letting my curiosity begin to show. Mira looked up at me, her gaze now more focused, but still marked by a certain confusion. ¡°Astrid, doesn''t our school have one of the best information networks of any school in the country?¡± Mira asked, still with a certain doubt in her voice. I nodded slowly, still not understanding what this had to do with Mira''s confused expression. ¡°As far as I know, yes. Why?¡± I replied, barely able to contain my curiosity at the direction the conversation was taking. Mira was silent for a moment, and then, in a low voice, almost as if she was trying to understand herself, she said: ¡°So, why is there no information about this Sid guy?¡± I frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, still not understanding the question. After I asked her that question, Mira didn''t say anything more. She just held out the folder towards me, so that I could read what was confusing her so much. As I picked up the document, I saw the name ¡°Sid¡± written at the top of the page in large letters. Below that were the following details, arranged in a strange and incomplete way: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHOOL FILE Name: SID V¨¡MIRION Father: Unknown Mother: Unknown Age: 16 Gift: None Room: ???? Additional Information: None Additional Notes (Confidential): Origin: Birth registration missing from files. Address: Declared address does not correspond to any known location. Academic record: Transferred without official documentation from previous schools. Behavior: Quiet and avoids social interaction. Strange Note: The name ¡°V¨¡mirion¡± appeared on a list of sensitive research records. Relevance unknown. Curiosity: Has a personal object - a white scarf - which he never takes off and which appears to be made of an unknown material. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 7 - A simple conversation I was speechless, looking at the paper Mira handed me. The register was empty. There was hardly any information about her origin, nor any data to explain her presence at the school. Just a series of blank fields. ¡°And... now I have to agree with you, this is all very strange.¡± I commented, surprised by everything I saw... or rather, what I didn''t see. Mira didn''t respond immediately to my comment, but nodded, agreeing with everything I had said. It took me a while to understand what had caught Mira''s attention so much about this boy we barely knew. The content of the paper was intriguing, to say the least. Interesting would be the right word, but even that seemed insufficient. And, in the end, we left there more confused than when we had entered to look for some information. *** [Mira''s POV] I arrived at school earlier than usual, something I often did to maintain my fa?ade as a dedicated student. However, anyone who really knew me knew that I was far from being the most punctual or responsible person in the world. But yesterday''s situation had affected me in a way that even I couldn''t explain. The only thing that went through my mind when I saw that scene right in front of my eyes was: ''What a mess. Somehow, that moment - new students wandering around, clearly lost - made me uncomfortable. It was no secret to anyone who knew me that I hated crowded places, especially in a situation like that, where anyone could bump into me at any moment. In the midst of all the disorder, I finally spotted my friend Astrid in one of the corridors. Without thinking twice, I started walking quickly towards her, who was staring at the crowd with a restless countenance. As soon as I got close, I asked my question, with a curious look on my face because of her expression. ¡°Did something happen, Astrid?¡± I asked, with curiosity evident in my tone, trying to understand the reason for her uneasy expression. She didn''t turn to look at me, she just sighed and replied with obvious discouragement: ¡°Nothing much. I was just thinking how right I was to leave the student council this year... Thanks to that, I won''t have to help anyone with anything.¡± I gave her a lopsided smile, crossing my arms as I leaned against the wall next to her.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°I understand. Leaving the student council was also the best thing I ever did. Just remembering that I won''t have to help almost a thousand people at the same time gives me a certain joy.¡± Astrid let out a low laugh, still keeping her eyes on the confusion in the corridor. ¡°True. You seemed to enjoy it at first, but it wasn''t until you saw what it was really like that you left.¡± ¡°Don''t blame me.¡± I replied, crossing my arms. ¡°We spent more time calming down people who didn''t even want to be there than doing anything useful.¡± Astrid finally looked away from the corridor and gave me a wry smile. ¡°That''s right. And to think that, even so, there are always people fighting for a place inside. As if it were the greatest privilege in the world.¡± I laughed briefly, shaking my head. ¡°Privilege? Little do they know that it''s more like a sentence. Seriously, I feel sorry for the new class.¡± ¡°Well, I don''t feel sorry for them.¡± Astrid retorted, as she slung her backpack over her shoulder. ¡°Let them learn the hard way, just like we did.¡± ¡°You''re right.¡± I agreed, shrugging. ¡°Now it''s no longer our problem. Let them manage.¡± Astrid let out another low laugh, only this time it was lighter, as if the conversation had relieved some of the discouragement she was carrying. ¡°Yeah, and you know what? I don''t miss you at all.¡± ¡°Neither do I.¡± I replied promptly. ¡°Our lives are complicated enough as it is with so many people getting on our nerves. And having to deal with the chaos of the council... that''s definitely not for everyone.¡± Astrid looked at the movement in the corridor again, but now with a calmer gaze. ¡°At least now we can just watch from afar.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± I added, still smiling. As Astrid continued to watch the crowd with that uncomfortable look on her face, I realized that, without even realizing it, I had begun to glance at her. Astrid had an unparalleled beauty, the kind that drew attention wherever she went without any effort. Her slender body was the stuff of envy, but it was her short hair that added the final touch to her charm. While one part of her hair fell loose, the other formed a side braid with a few blue strands. Our school''s red and gold uniform, with the classic blue skirt and the name ¡°Ashford¡± printed on the chest of the shirt, completed her look perfectly. Noticing that Astrid also wanted to get out of the crowd, an idea popped into my head. ¡°Astrid, what do you say we go to the classroom? If we''re lucky, there might not be anyone there yet.¡± I suggested, hoping to get a positive confirmation from Astrid. After all, she didn''t want to be in that place as much as I did. As soon as I asked that question, Astrid, who seemed a little off, blinked a few times before coming back to reality and turning to me with a slight smile on her face. ¡°Fine by me. I can''t take the noise anymore.¡± After Astrid''s confirmation, I nodded and started walking alongside her, dodging several students who seemed to be going nowhere. The school corridors were busier than usual, with new students mingling with the veterans. As we approached our room, both Astrid and I had a little surprise: that same boy, who had caught my eye in the principal''s office the day before, was there, sitting in a chair at the back. Curiously, Ashford used to adopt the student partnership program, so each table had room for two more people, one on each side. However, the place where he was sitting was terrible, but to get an escr... oops, I mean a friend, it would be worth the sacrifice. When I saw that boy alone in the room, I couldn''t contain the small smile that formed on my lips. ¡°What great luck.¡± I whispered to myself as I smiled innocently again, trying to hide my feelings, even if Astrid wasn''t paying attention. Chapter 8 - Fake smiles ¡°Did you say something?¡± Astrid asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at me sideways, noticing my distracted look. ¡°No, nothing.¡± I answered quickly, shaking my head and approaching the boy with that fake, innocent smile. It was clear from Astrid''s expression that she was wondering how I could change my facade so quickly. For me, it was already part of who I was. ¡°Hi, you''re Sid, aren''t you?¡± I asked, approaching him with that innocent smile that, apart from the fact that hardly anyone noticed it, few could really notice its true nature. When I realized that he wasn''t even aware of my presence, I decided to continue with what I was saying. ¡°Since I always see you here alone, I was curious... Could we be your friends?¡± I finished with a smile so radiant that I''m sure even the shiniest jewel in the world would be envious. [Sid''s POV] I was in my corner, quietly reading my book, when those two girls I had seen in the principal''s office yesterday approached me. At first, I decided to pretend I hadn''t heard, to avoid getting into any more trouble, especially with these two, who were extremely popular at school. But this Mira girl, realizing that I was trying to ignore her, didn''t give up. With an expression that was still ''innocent'', although I knew it wasn''t innocent at all, she continued to insist, trying to get my attention in any way she could, oblivious to the fact that I clearly didn''t want to get involved with them. When I realized that she wasn''t going to leave me alone if I didn''t answer her question, I let out a discreet sigh and closed my book for a moment. With a quick movement, I glanced at her, analyzing her at a glance, trying to pick up some detail that would help me understand her intentions. ¡°Please, next time you ask someone for something, try not to flash that fake smile.¡± I commented, not really caring about the shock she had received, as I went back to reading my book. I saw no need to soften my words, especially since she was clearly trying to manipulate me, and that annoyed me.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. I didn''t make that comment as a form of provocation, nor to try to look funny. Still, as surprised as I was, both by my words and by her friend''s reaction, the redhead ended up letting out a discreet giggle, which she quickly disguised with a cough. ¡°Mira, I don''t think he''d be comfortable with us being here.¡± Astrid commented as she approached Mira. Mira, completely ignoring my refusal to approach and her friend''s warning that I didn''t want to get involved with them, simply disregarded it and asked again. ¡°I see... Being a Gift Zero, you must be used to getting a lot of fake smiles, aren''t you?¡± After the statement from the white-haired girl, who still had that cynical smile on her face, I decided not to say anything and continued reading my book. However, it seemed that even that wouldn''t be enough to make her give up. After all, even with my clear, almost direct answer that I didn''t want to get involved with them, she insisted on continuing the conversation. ¡°I just want you to know one thing: that smile I''m showing you is the same one I give to everyone, every day.¡± Mira still insisted on that statement, as if she expected me to finally believe her lies. And once again, Mira kept the same innocent smile on her face, as if I didn''t know it was just another one of her fake smiles. And from the look on her friend''s face, I was right. Perhaps I wasn''t the first person to realize that that smile was just a fa?ade, something she was trying to hide behind her expression, but I wasn''t that far behind either. As it seemed pointless to try to make it clear that I didn''t want to get involved with either of them, I kept my eyes on my book. Without lifting my head, I imitated the same gesture she had made: a corner smile, identical to the one she had given me a few seconds earlier. I made it clear that I didn''t mind at all. ¡°At no point did I say it wasn''t the same...¡± I said, looking at Mira, keeping the same fake smile that she insisted on saying was real, even though I knew it wasn''t. After all, if I could give it, I could give it. After all, if I could give it, what was to stop someone else from getting it? It only took me saying those words for the smile on Mira''s face to change completely. If before I still had some hope that she would leave me alone, now it was completely gone. ¡°So that means you''ll want to be my friend...¡± Mira, for a moment, forgot to keep her mask on. Without realizing it, she ended up saying it to me with a smile that was even more fake than the previous one, accompanied by a victorious voice. She really seemed to think she had the upper hand there. But as soon as I realized where she was going with the conversation, I decided to interrupt her while I still had time. ¡°As I said before, I never claimed not to be the same. But what''s the point of being the same if it doesn''t change the fact that he''s a fake?¡± I asked in an almost obvious way, knowing that she wouldn''t be able to answer, so surprised was she. Mira was speechless. The mask she tried so hard to hide was unmasked so easily by me. As soon as I realized that she would try to retort, I decided to put an end to the conversation. ¡°I''ll give you a piece of advice: if you really want to have real friends, and not fake ones, I recommend that you be yourself. Show who you really are, show your true personality.¡± I knew that wouldn''t put her off. On the contrary, if she really is the kind of person I''m thinking of, it must have made her a little angry, but she wouldn''t admit it. And the fact that she was keeping her head down and taking the opportunity to hide her face only confirmed that I was right. Chapter 9 - The new students Her silence only reinforced my suspicions even more. Firstly, that she was probably trying to think of an excuse or argument to counter what I had said. But since she couldn''t find anything relevant to say to me, this leads to the second option: perhaps I was the first person to notice the fa?ade she was keeping up and, even worse, to confront her about it. Either way, she was either moping around in shame or just trying to find something plausible to answer me. Her silence only reinforced my suspicions even more, but this time I knew exactly what to expect. I started counting mentally. ¡°One... two...¡± Mira kept her head down, as if trying to control some reaction. ¡°Three.¡± And then it happened. Mira suddenly raised her head and let out a loud, forced laugh, as if trying to mask any discomfort or embarrassment she might be feeling. ¡°Well, it looks like Gift Zero is smarter than I expected.¡± Mira commented, while stretching, but still keeping that cynical, fake smile on her face. As soon as Mira made that comment, leaving aside any effort to hide her true personality, Astrid''s reaction was almost spontaneous, as if she had been expecting it to happen. Probably, in her mind, her friend would have been able to sustain that theater for longer. ¡°That''s much better now...¡± I commented quietly, still concentrating on my book. However, before I could continue, Astrid, still shocked by it all, asked a question. ¡°How did you know?¡± Astrid asked, still looking at me with a shocked expression. I sighed and closed the book calmly, keeping my attention on Mira, who still had the same cynical smile on her face, now not bothering to hide who she really was. ¡°Simple. Just look at her face, she was practically screaming that she was suffocating from pretending so much.¡± I replied, still not really caring, as I put the book away in the pocket of my backpack. However, before I did, I turned to face the albino, who was still glaring at me with a smile on her face. ¡°If I were you, I''d put the mask back on...¡± After I said those words and turned around, they both looked at each other, not understanding anything. ¡°Why would I...?¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Mira even tried to question my comment. However, before she could finish her question, she heard footsteps and noises coming from the corridor. Realizing what I meant, Mira closed her eyes and sighed deeply, clearly getting herself together to wear her ¡°mask¡± again. And I was right. After doing so, I saw her expression soften and, soon afterwards, that same fake smile return. When I witnessed that scene of Mira smiling warmly at everyone who entered the room and went to talk to her, I couldn''t help myself and let out a small cynical laugh, which only went unnoticed by Astrid, who had just sat down next to me. Astrid gave me a quizzical look, probably curious about something. If I had to guess, I''d say it was about how I managed to spot her friend''s ¡°mask¡± so easily. After greeting everyone who had come to talk to her, Mira started walking towards me. Still with that cynical smile, she sat down across from me, leaving me in the middle of the two. ¡°Can you wipe that smile off your face?¡± Mira asked sullenly, probably annoyed that I had discovered her secret so easily. I could have kept to myself and done nothing more, but I decided to play along. As soon as Mira asked me that question, I jumped out of my chair and, feigning surprise, put my hand to my mouth, as if I had just heard something shocking. ¡°So...¡± I began, letting my voice trail off with deliberate theatricality as I leaned back in my chair, looking alternately at Mira and Astrid. ¡°What do you two want from this simple Gift Zero?¡± My intonation was deliberately exaggerated, as if I were the protagonist of some fifth-rate tragic play. I made a point of using the words with enough disdain to underline the sarcasm. Mira frowned, clearly annoyed by the way I''d spoken, but it was Astrid who reacted first. ¡°I just want a friend.¡± Astrid said. I could feel the sincerity in Astrid''s words. Mira, on the other hand, didn''t seem interested in giving simple answers. She crossed her arms, and her still-sinister smile stretched, with a glint of superiority in her eyes. She didn''t feel any malice, however. ¡°I want... a slave.¡± Mira''s answer, as well as coming out with a tone of disdain, was accompanied by a sweet voice, which made me let out a short laugh. ¡°I''ll think about it. I''ll let you know.¡± I replied with a joking tone in my voice as I lowered my head. Then I raised it again to introduce myself properly. ¡°Nice to meet you, Sid V¨¡mirion.¡± I made the comment, without looking away from the two. The first to speak was Astrid, as I had expected. She gave a quick and brief introduction of herself, without beating around the bush, something simple and direct. ¡°Astrid Orlando.¡± Astrid said, her voice soft. As soon as Astrid had finished introducing herself, Mira barely let me say anything and introduced herself. ¡°Nice to meet you, all my friends call me Mira Air¨©n, but since you''re a special person, you can call me master.¡± Mira replied with a cynical smile on her face as she stared at me. Since I was used to this kind of situation, I just arched an eyebrow and, with a relaxed posture, decided to continue with the joke. ¡°Of course, Air¨©n-sama.¡± I spoke in a relaxed manner, letting out a light laugh, but without losing the sarcastic tone, while pretending to bow. The smile I offered wasn''t that of someone intimidated or surprised, but the kind of smile that said: ''I''ll play along. Astrid, seeing the expression Mira was making, couldn''t help herself and burst out laughing. Before we knew it, two girls entered the room. The first had golden eyes and light pink hair, with a few white strands at the ends. The second had long black hair, also with white highlights, but her eyes were emerald green. The two of them approached us and sat down on the empty chairs in front of us. Somewhat disconcerted, I lowered my head, not knowing exactly what to say, pretending to have gone back to sleep. Chapter 10 - New members of the group [Mira¡¯s POV] My first impression of Sid was that he seemed like a really nice person. Even though he picked up on my true personality so easily - which annoyed me a little - he still gave off the vibe of a trustworthy person. He wasn''t like the others, who barely tried to realize that that smile was just a fa?ade. On the contrary, the very moment he saw me, he realized it. And unlike the others, who would have been uncomfortable discovering my true personality, he didn''t seem to mind. It was as if he wanted to say: be yourself. But I had to admit, what that boy had to say was annoying, he also had to say was clever. To see if what he was saying was really true, I decided to use my Gift on him. My Gift, although it seemed simple, was also incredibly complex. It followed the logic of theater, which justified its name: ¡°Theatrical¡±. In other words, no matter how hard you try to hide it or even if you''re the best actor in the world, my Gift is able to tell if your actions really correspond with your true feelings and desires. In other words, against my Gift, there was no hiding the truth. Or at least, that''s what I hoped. When I used my Gift on Sid, in an attempt to find out what he was hiding so much, I ended up being surprised - or rather, I wasn''t surprised by anything, because I couldn''t see anything at all. That had never happened to me before. It was the first time I''d met someone so... how can I put it, neutral. I couldn''t see anything - no desire, no lust, nothing. But in some way that I couldn''t explain, it just piqued my curiosity even more. He didn''t seem to want to do anything special, and that only made it more intriguing. That Sid was a very strange person. I had never met someone so neutral in my life. Even the least ambitious people have some desire, but he somehow seemed more like an empty shell. While I was wondering how someone like Sid could exist, I caught a glimpse of two girls coming in and sitting down at a free table right in front of us. I stood there, trying to remember who they were, but unfortunately no familiar faces came to mind. The girl in front turned around to introduce herself first. Her shoulder-length hair was tied up in a ponytail that extended down to her hips. The color of her hair, a light pink, enhanced her beauty even more, making her impossible to miss. (Too bad Sid has his head down...) I thought, as I analyzed the girl.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. What''s more, as if her striking beauty wasn''t enough, she still had those beautiful, unique gloves, which immediately caught my eye. The glove was red and curled around her arm like a spiral of uncontrolled flame. The most curious thing was that she was only wearing it on one hand, but instead of looking strange, it only added to her style, making the look even more stylish and unique. The girl opened a warm smile and introduced herself: ¡°Nice to meet you, my name is Carlotta Jeni, and this is my best friend, Camellya Korona. We''ve just transferred here today and we hope we can get along with all of you.¡± As Carlotta spoke, my attention was drawn to Camellya, who was standing next to her. She seemed the opposite in terms of presence. Her long black hair, with white strands that blended in subtly, created a contrast that discreetly drew attention. For me, there was nothing special about the girl''s presentation, but it seemed that Sid had noticed something. After all, his shoulders suddenly tensed. At a glance, I saw Sid raise his head so that only his eyes were visible. Politely, and still wearing my mask, I decided to introduce myself. ¡°Hello, my name is Mira Air¨©n, but most people just call me Air¨©n. These are my friends Sid and Astrid.¡± After my introduction, I noticed Astrid smiling sincerely, while Sid, for some reason, was holding back even more in his chair. It was strange, to say the least, but as I hardly knew him, I decided not to pry. Maybe something has happened to him that he doesn''t want to share. Astrid was the first to introduce herself - in her own way, but she did it. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Sid, for his part, said nothing. He just nodded, then rested his head on his hands and probably went back to sleep. Camellya, with a sweet smile, said: ¡°Camellya says the same.¡± When I heard that cute little thing talking, I could hardly control myself. It was completely new to me; I''d never seen anyone speak in the third person, let alone in such an adorable way. I tried to disguise my surprise, but the involuntary smile that appeared on my face wasn''t enough to hide the impression Camellya had made. However, just as I was about to strike up a conversation, I was interrupted by the sudden entrance of Roccia, her sister Suzana and their childhood friend Brant. Realizing that Roccia hadn''t noticed us, I decided to draw her attention. I raised my hand slightly, trying not to be too obvious, but the sound of my voice, although soft, was enough to make Roccia turn in our direction. ¡°Hey, Roccia!¡± I called out, keeping the fake smile on my face as I watched her. She looked at me with a smile on her lips before quickly heading in our direction, followed by her sister and her childhood friend. ¡°Hi, guys.¡± Said Roccia in her soft voice, greeting everyone present. Taking the hook left by Roccia, I decided to introduce her properly. ¡°Everyone, this is my friend Roccia, her sister Suzana and their friend Brant.¡± I began the introductions, observing Roccia and her sister smiling at us, while the boy seemed distant, with a downcast look on his face. He had two chin piercings, three on each side of his nose and a red bandana with a white pattern. I didn''t know exactly why, but the impression he gave off didn''t match what I saw with my Gift. It was hard to explain, but it felt like he was pretending to be something he wasn''t, like he was hiding something for some reason. But it was probably just me.