MUTOSTERONE

After several hours on the road, the car finally rolled to a stop before the border gate of Yuccavale.

A small, peaceful town, YuccaVale was the very definition of calm—a sharp contrast to the harsh, crumbling slums of Ashmere. The air smelled of damp earth and fresh leaves, the roads lined with wooden fences and cobblestone paths that led into the heart of a lush, green jungle.

Professor Langley stepped out first, adjusting his coat as he took a deep breath of the fresh air.

Kai, however, was less impressed. He squinted up at the sky, then at the towering trees surrounding them. "Great. So, uh… what next?" He stretched, cracking his neck. "Is this where I start milking cows or something?"

Professor smirked, shutting the car door. "No. This is where we find a teacher."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "A teacher?"

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "You know, the person who teaches? Because you're a student now?"

Kai scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, got it. So, who's this poor soul stuck training me?"

Langley turned toward a cozy-looking inn nestled at the edge of the jungle. The wooden sign swayed gently in the breeze, its carved letters bold yet welcoming: Lilian's Inn.

Without another word, Langley started toward it. Kai hesitated.

Seraphina nudged his shoulder. "You coming, or are you gonna stand there and let the mosquitoes eat you alive?"

Kai sighed and followed them inside. The warm scent of brewed herbs and aged wood filled Lilian's Inn, the quiet chatter of locals mingling with the distant hum of the jungle. The place was modest but sturdy, the kind of inn where people passed through but rarely overstayed.

Professor Langley strode up to the counter, tapping his fingers lightly against the polished wood. "Three glasses of whatever's local, please."

The innkeeper—a wiry man with a permanent frown—nodded, already working on their drinks. Langley casually scanned the room. Then, his gaze landed on him.

A man in the farthest, darkest corner. Feet propped up on the table, hat pulled low, drink in one hand. He sat alone, and judging by the untouched chair across from him, that's exactly how he liked it.

Barry Leighton. Sheriff of Yuccavale. A man who avoided people like the plague. Langley smiled to himself and made his move. He crossed the room, chair legs scraping as he sat down uninvited.

Barry barely acknowledged him. He took a slow sip of his drink, then exhaled like Langley's very presence had ruined his day. "No law's been broken, professor." His voice was low, gruff, and full of impatience.

Langley chuckled. "Good to know. I wasn't planning on getting arrested today."

Barry finally tilted his hat up slightly, just enough to meet Langley's eyes. "Then why the hell are you at my table?"

Langley folded his hands. "Because I like to sit with interesting people."

Barry smirked—a dry, unimpressed expression. "Then you're in the wrong damn town."

Kai and Seraphina, still at the counter, watched the exchange like spectators at a street fight.

"Is this the teacher?" Kai muttered, sipping his drink.

Seraphina snorted. "Nah. This is just an angry old mutt who likes to bark at strangers."

Barry's ear twitched. Langley, ignoring the tension, leaned in slightly. "Barry, I need someone who knows how to handle mutants—someone who understands the fight, the struggle, the cost."

Barry swirled his drink lazily, looking bored out of his mind. "And? What's that gotta do with me?"

Langley's smile didn't fade. "Because if there's anyone who knows what it's like to be hunted, feared, and hated for what they are—it's you."

Barry's jaw tightened. The room suddenly felt a little quieter. For a moment, Langley thought Barry might get up and leave.

Instead, the sheriff downed his drink, set the glass down, and sighed. "…Damn it."

Then, without looking at Langley, he muttered, "You're paying for my next round."

Professor Langley reached into his coat and slid a sleek, pristine card across the table.

Barry barely glanced at it. "Not interested."

Langley smirked. "You haven't even read it yet."

Barry huffed, finally picking up the card and flicking it between his fingers. "Let me guess. Professor Langley—Founder, Big Shot, Savior of Mutants?"

Langley shrugged. "Close enough."

Barry let the card drop back onto the table, unimpressed. "Still not interested."

But Langley wasn't done. He leaned back, arms folded. "See, the thing is, Barry… everyone knows who you are. Yuccavale's hero. The lone wolf who fought back against Fletcher and his goons when they tried to burn this town down on 3 Byeolhwa, Tsuchihi 1312."

Barry snorted. "Sounds like you read that off a history book."

Langley grinned. "I wrote the history book."

Kai and Seraphina, still eavesdropping from the counter, exchanged looks.

Barry, meanwhile, shook his head, smirking. "You forgot something, professor."

He leaned forward, his eyes sharp and gleaming. "Before I was Yuccavale's 'hero,' I was The Calendar."

Langley didn't even flinch. "Oh, trust me, I didn't forget."

Barry chuckled darkly. "Then you know exactly how many people I killed."

Langley tapped his fingers against the table. "Yep. All in neat little patterns too—1 on the first, 2 on the second, 3 on the third…"

Kai almost choked on his drink. "Holy shit, he was serious?"

Seraphina smirked. "Oh yeah. Barry's old school is crazy."

Barry just kept staring at Langley, waiting for the usual reaction. Fear. Disgust. Judgment.

Instead—Langley just smiled, like Barry had just proven his point. "See?" Langley gestured at him. "You embrace your past. You redeem it." He spread his arms like he was making a grand speech. "Old friend, you are living proof that even the worst of us can—"

"—shut the hell up and buy me another drink?" Barry cut in, deadpan.

Langley chuckled. "Damn, I missed you."

Barry groaned, rubbing his temples. "You haven't missed me. You've tracked me down to drag me into whatever mess you're cooking."

Langley's grin widened. "Exactly."

Before Barry could tell Langley to shove his recruitment pitch somewhere unpleasant, a door creaked open at the back of the inn.

Out stepped Lilian, the owner, her long auburn hair tied back in a loose braid, her sleeves rolled up from a hard day's work. She scanned the room, spotted Barry, and—without hesitation—walked right up to him.

Then, in one smooth motion, she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed his temple, and smiled. "Hey, honey," she said sweetly. "You okay?"

The room went dead silent. Seraphina's jaw dropped. Kai blinked like he'd just witnessed the moon explode. Langley's entire brain short-circuited.

Barry, completely unfazed, just sighed. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Langley slowly raised a hand. "I—uh—honey?"

Barry turned back to them, frowning. "What?"

Langley pointed dramatically. "You. Her. Marriage? When the hell did that happen?!"

Lilian, still comfortably clinging to Barry, chuckled. "A while ago."

Kai, still in shock, muttered, "I thought this guy was, like… a grumpy lone wolf."

Seraphina, equally dumbfounded, whispered back, "Apparently, he got domesticated."

Barry rolled his eyes. "You guys act like I don't have a personal life."

Langley, still struggling to process reality, rubbed his temples. "You—I—we—Barry, you got married, and you didn't even invite me?!"

Barry took a long, slow sip of his drink. Then, completely deadpan, he replied. "Yeah."

Langley clutched his chest like he'd been personally betrayed. "Unbelievable. I thought we were friends!"

Barry shrugged. "Didn't wanna deal with your long-ass speeches."

Lilian laughed and kissed Barry's cheek again. "Relax, Professor. It was small. Just us and a few close friends."

Langley gasped dramatically. "So you're saying I'm not a close friend?!"

Barry sighed, rubbing his face. "Can we please talk about something else?"

Seraphina, grinning now, crossed her arms. "Nope. This is our entire topic now."

Kai nodded. "Yeah, this is the best thing I've heard all day."

Langley, still in shock, shook his head. "I swear to god, Barry, this is worse than your serial killer phase."

Barry groaned. "Oh, for fu—Lilian, help me."

Lilian just smiled, patting his chest. "You're on your own, honey."

Langley took a deep breath, placing both hands on the table like a man trying to regain control of his life. "Okay. Okay. Forget the wedding thing—for now." He shot a glare at Barry. "We'll talk about that betrayal later."

Barry rolled his eyes. "It's not a betrayal if I just didn't invite you."

Langley ignored him. "What I really came here for—before my heart was shattered—is to offer you a position at the Hall of M."

Barry raised an eyebrow. "A position?"

"Yes. A noble cause." Langley leaned forward dramatically. "Barry Leighton, I want you to become a teacher."

Silence. Then, from beside Barry, Lilian suddenly burst into laughter. Not just a chuckle. Not a soft giggle. No—she full-on doubled over, gripping her stomach, gasping for air.

Barry just stared at her, completely deadpan. "Thanks for the support, honey."

Lilian wiped a tear from her eye, still wheezing. "Oh my god—Barry? A teacher?" She clutched Langley's shoulder. "Professor, are you—are you okay? Did the long drive mess with your brain?"

Langley remained unfazed. "I'm serious."

Lilian kept laughing. "Teaching what?! How to scowl at people? How to drink alone in a dark corner?"

Barry sighed. "You're really enjoying this, huh?"

Seraphina, now fully on board with the roast session, leaned in. "How to ignore phone calls? How to make people think you're dead for three weeks?"

Kai, utterly defeated, slumped in his seat. "This school is doomed."

Langley, however, grinned like a man who had already won. "Actually," he said, steepling his fingers, "Barry will be teaching… art."

The room went dead silent again. Barry, blinking slowly, pointed at himself. "Art?"

"Yes," Langley said, like this was the most obvious thing in the world.

Barry leaned back. "You want a former serial killer to teach children art."

"Absolutely."

Barry looked at Lilian. Lilian looked at Barry. Then Lilian, wheezing from laughter again, slid off her chair onto the floor.

Kai, at this point, just put his head in his hands. "This is a nightmare."

Seraphina smirked. "Well, I guess you do have a creative side."

Barry, still processing, exhaled slowly. "What in the actual fuck is happening right now?"

Langley, completely unfazed, clapped his hands. "Wonderful! Then it's settled!"

Kai looked up, horrified. "It's not settled!"

Barry rubbed his face. "You know what? Sure. Why not? I'll teach art. Let's see how long it takes before the school catches on fire."

Kai groaned, sinking lower in his chair. "We are so screwed."