Luminary Institute

30: Random Beatboxing

Keeping quiet, Nyssa tried to erase her presence. Hesitant to say anything, she decided to observe and just let Ryker and Electra handle this ‘challenge’ of sorts. Fidgeting under the table she reached over and, with her mind guided by an unconscious instinct, grabbed Celeste’s hand. Getting a squeeze and comforting smile back from Celeste, she blinked a couple moments while processing what she had just done before smiling back. 

Ryker and Electra, by now though, turned in their seats to face the conglomeration of ‘ambassadors’ gathered by their table. Too lazy to even stand up, Ryker dragged another chair in front of him and kicked his legs up. “So, what’s up? What challenge are you all proposing?” 

“One for the team battles,” The spokesperson elaborated with a faint edge of animosity creeping into their voice. “We’d like to do a head-to-head this afternoon where whichever group can both last longer, but also inflict more damage on the heroes will win.” 

Following his statement, echoes of agreement sounded out among the other Class One students in the semi-circle. Unlike the main spokesperson though, there wasn’t an air of animosity in many of the other students. For many, the tone of their voice was more of ‘friendly rivalry’ than anything actually malicious. Others though, just let their natural propensity for competition take over. The fire and drive to tear down Class Zero was clear in their eyes. One person, in particular, Troy, seemed to waver between the two. To a certain extent there was a respect and amiability clear in his eyes, but there was also a faint fire of loathing burning behind his eyes. 

“Sure, I don’t mind doing it, I’ll have to ask the rest of Class Zero if they want to participate though,” Ryker shrugged, as if to say ‘it’s out of my control,’ “It does seem a little unfair though. Look at how many of you there are, and look at how few of us there are. Doesn’t seem very honorable for you all to use the strength in numbers to prove you're better than us.” 

“Yes, we already considered that aspect of it. Our proposal is that we’ll only send our best six forward,” The spokesperson wove his fingers together before shooting a look towards Nyssa. “Though... it does seem you all have another student here.” 

“Indeed, we do have another student now,” Electra smiled while motioning towards Nyssa. “So, you can send seven people if you want.” 

“Will do,” the spokesperson nodded before turning on his heel. Doing a half-head turn back towards Ryker and Electra, he stressed a “I look forward to hearing back from you soon” and walked off. As he walked off, the rest of Class One followed suit and disappeared further into the cafeteria to get some food. 

The situation, having resolved itself for now, ended with quite the anticlimactic sigh as Ryker and Electra turned in their seats and faced the two girls once more. Albion, Titus, and Conrad, having watched the whole exchange from a distance, walked over and all took a seat. 

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With all of Class Zero together once more, everyone began eating as the hustle and bustle of the cafeteria amped up bit by bit. Making some quiet conversation, everyone ate while dodging around the just-transpired event. It wasn’t as if nobody wanted to talk about it, but everyone who wasn’t named Ryker or Electra didn’t feel like they should bring it up. Those two were the de facto leaders of Class Zero, and they’d bring it up when they were ready. 

After a couple minutes of quiet eating, where Nyssa wilted under the gazes of what felt like the entire school, Ryker cleared his throat. “So, are all of you okay with getting involved in this? It might be a little tough, since I assume only people in Electra and I’s year will participate, but it’d be a good experience nonetheless.” 

“If you all don’t want to participate just Ryker and I will go and we’ll just let them know to only send two people as well,” Electra clarified while reaching over. Putting one hand on Celeste’s and one hand on Nyssa’s, she patted them a few times. “Just choose happiness. Go fight a villain syndicate or something if you want as Ryker said earlier.” 

“I mean... there really isn’t a villain syndicate around to fight,” Nyssa trailed off while looking around. “I’m fine with uh... with participating. It seems... interesting.” 

“You’re definitely not fully awake right now aren’t you?” Electra raised an eyebrow after hearing Nyssa’s half-coherent answer. “Are you sure? Aren’t you trying to keep your identity a bit more on the down low?” 

“The doowwwwnnnn low,” Ryker interrupted while making some random beatboxing noses. “Okay, sorry, continue.” 

“I’m not that awake,” Nyssa shook her head before leaning down and resting her head against the table. “Just lump me in with Celeste.” 

“Well, I’m totally down to participate,” Celeste shrugged while reaching over and ruffling Nyssa’s hair. “Is it too late to register though?” 

“Nah, it should be fine, most people are forming their teams right now,” Ryker pulled his phone out from his pocket. “I’ll go register later so don’t worry. I’m going to text my friends in Class One right now though. It’ll be fine.” 

“How about you three then, Albion, Titus, and Conrad?” Electra asked while turning towards the three boys. “Sorry for not asking sooner, but you three usually are quite onboard to participate in these types of fights. Want to hop in on this one?” 

Getting a chorus of “For sure”s and “Absolutely”s from the three boys, Electra just nodded and nudged Ryker letting him know to include the consent of everyone in the class. “This should be a fun time then.” 

--- 

Overall, lunch was... relaxing. Not that Nyssa remembered all of it. Having taken a nap—albeit accidentally—she thought life was near its peak. After all, for her, life quality and napping time were two metrics that were directly correlated. 

Once back awake, she asked Celeste to catch her up as they walked back towards the stadium-like training field. Ryker had sent the text, everyone had just finished eating, and, more interestingly, a scuffle had broken out in the far end of the cafeteria. 

Having slept through the fight though, Nyssa could only live vicariously through Celeste’s brilliant retelling. There were punches thrown, food thrown, and a couple people were sent to Kaiser’s office. 

Wait a second... hehe... 

Making a note on her phone to ask Kaiser about the situation once she got home, she thanked the heavens for her father before also making a note to ask Slade about his thoughts on it all. Slade, after all, was the son of Kaiser, so... though the faculty might all give them ‘the talk’ about how they were ‘so disappointing’ and everything, Nyssa wondered if Slade could relate. 

Plus, it didn’t matter too much to him, his opinion on the school wasn’t going to change.