CHAPTER 49: THE INSTITUTE IS BACK UP AND RUNNING

An entire month passed by with no call from the Aegis Corps. The students at the institute had to wait anxiously to hear if their studies would be continuing this year or not.

Jin didn’t mind this, though. He spent the entire month training to prepare himself for the unknown. He mainly focused on strengthening his soul so he could peek into the minds of others, and now he was at a point where he could do that with ease.

The only downside was that it would leave his victim braindead, but he didn’t care since he would only be using it on people who were a threat to him.

"This is nice. I can feel my power surging through my body. I’m halfway to my former peak now."

Jin also took some time to upgrade his power kit, making it better in every way. He doubled down on giving it features to simulate his magical powers in case he was caught, and he added nanites to his bloodstream so he could use the tech without even activating his power kit.

A few days ago, there was a large memorial for the people who lost their lives during the fall of Olympus, and a public announcement went out to the whole country, informing them about the Sons of Adam.

Jin didn’t attend. He didn’t care to. The people he was close to were all okay, so he didn’t feel the need to attend such an event. He had more important things to do.

"At least Mrs Horton is back."

After everyone made it to the mainland, Mrs Horton appeared a few days later, injured but okay.

Like Jin predicted, she contained the blast and stopped it from harming not only the planet but the moon as well. However, she had underestimated the energy output of the explosion and was slightly injured.

She was okay now. To her, the injuries she suffered were akin to a scratch.

BEEP BEEP

"Hmm? A message?" Checking his phone, Jin saw that a message had been sent out to every student at the institute and their guardians.

"Because of recent events, the Aegis Institute has been temporarily shut down for the past month. Fortunately, everything is currently going back to normal on our end, and we will be opening the institute once again. For those who wish to continue their schooling this year, attend the Institute branch tomorrow morning. For those who wish to take a break from school this year, this will not go on your record. - Mrs Horton."

"Sweet. The institute is back up. However, it will be weird going to class with the initiates at the institute here on the surface. I heard that they don’t like the initiates from Olympus because we’re too "prideful."

"Jin! Jin! Wake up!" Brittiny slammed his door open and tried to jump on his bed, but her body started floating, and she was placed on the ground.

"What do you want?"

"Whoa, your power kit has antigravity? Wait, when did you activate your power kit?"

Jin tapped his arm. "I injected nanites into my bloodstream alongside a chip that’s connected to my brainstem."

"Wow. Isn’t that dangerous?"

"Meh, I’m alive and have no negative effects from the procedure, so I’m fine. So, what’s up?"

"Oh, right. Did you get the message? You can go back to the institute! Well, the one here, but still, you can go back! Do you plan on going back?"

"Yeah. I plan on going back."

"Yes! Okay, that’s all I wanted to tell you. I have to go to work now. Bye, love you!"

"Yeah, love you too."

---

"Wow, this place looks exactly the same as the institute on Olympus." Jin started at the institute before walking inside. He expected there to be a difference, but there literally wasn’t one.

"No, that’s not true. It’s taller, you see." Angela pointed out the extra two floors the building had."

"Oh yeah, you’re right. I didn’t catch that."

"Well, well, well. If it isn’t bitch one and bitch two. Have you decided to grace us with your divine presence today, oh so great beings from Olympus?"

Jin and Angela turned to the girl who started talking shit to them.

"Do you know who she is?" Jin asked

"No idea."

"Huh. So why is she insulting us?"

"No idea."

"Whatever, let’s go." Jin and Angela ignored the girl and started walking inside the building.

"H-Hey! Wait! Don’t ignore me! How could you forget who I am?!" She tried to step between Jin and Angela, but was pushed out of the way by a hand of ice.

"I-I’m your nemesis! Charlotte!"

Angela paused. Turning around, she looked into Charlotte’s eyes and stared at her for a while before responding.

"No fucking way. Jin. This is Charlotte!"

"Fat Charlotte?" He asked

"Hey! I wasn’t fat! I simply wasn’t able to control my powers!"

"Pwahahaha! Fat Charlotte! It’s been a while! Are you still bullying people? I see that you also lost weight." Angela slapped her on the back as a greeting.

"Ugh! I didn’t lose weight! My powers made me chubby. And get off me! You two wont get away with making fun of me during grade school!"

Jin shrugged. He actually never made fun of her. Charlotte had asked him out, and he declined, so she tried to make his life a living hell. Unfortunately, he already had Angela to deal with and didn’t want another headache, so he called her fat evrey time she tried to bully him.

It worked like a wonder since she stopped talking to him altogether.

"Okay. Nice to see you again. By now." Jin started walking away, and Angela followed.

"W-Wait. Why are you two hanging out together? I thought you hated each other?"

Angela grinned and took advantage of the moment. "Oh, Charlotte, you don’t know anything about me and my beloved."

"W-What? You two are dating!"

"No, we’re not dating. Angela, shut up."

"You’re no fun."

When they entered the auditorium, the place where they were supposed to go for morning announcements, Addison was waiting for them on the side.

"Finally." She grabbed Jin’s arm and led him to the three seats she had saved for herself, Jin, and Angela.

"Were you waiting for us?" He asked, feeling touched.

"Yes. Now hurry up, morning announcements are starting."