MUTOSTERONE

Langley smirked, satisfied. "Well then, Barry, welcome to the faculty."

Barry scoffed, crossing his arms. "I didn't say yes. I just said, 'Sure, why not?'"

Langley winked. "Same thing."

Barry muttered something under his breath before turning to Lilian. "You cool with this?"

Lilian, still recovering from her laughing fit, waved a hand. "Go. Go be a terrible teacher. But if you don't write, call, or send a message at least once a week, I'm hunting you down."

Barry gave her a mock salute. "Noted."

Langley watched the exchange awkwardly, clearing his throat. "This is… heartwarming."

Kai, however, was losing his mind. He turned to Seraphina, whispering furiously. "You cannot be serious. This is the guy who's gonna train me?"

Seraphina, annoyed, flicked his forehead. "Stop whining. He's strong, experienced, and…" She glanced at Barry, who was now chugging his entire drink in one go. "... uh, mostly functional."

Kai grabbed his hair. "There has to be someone else! Some wise, old, battle-hardened mentor with actual teaching skills!"

Seraphina grinned. "Oh, you mean like Langley?"

Kai froze. He and Seraphina both turned to look at Langley, who was now waving cheerfully at the innkeeper for more drinks.

Kai sighed, dead inside. "I'm so screwed."

Seraphina patted his shoulder. "Welcome to the Hall of M, kid."

Just as Langley was about to unlock the car, Barry stopped and squinted at the vehicle. Then, he burst out laughing. "Wait, wait, wait—this is your car?"

Langley sighed dramatically. "Yes, Barry. This is my car."

Barry walked around it slowly, inspecting it like an archaeologist uncovering a relic from a lost civilization. "You're telling me," he said, poking the slightly dented hood, "that Aldric Langley—the trillionaire who owns half of the East Coast—drives around in a Velkan-T4?!"

Kai, already exhausted from today, groaned. "Oh no. Oh, no no no. Please don't tell me, it's a bad thing to drive!"

Because yes, Langley's precious car was none other than a Velkan-T4, a compact four-door sedan produced by Velkan Motors in 1200 Third Age—over 100 years ago.

Back in its day, the Velkan-T4 was a cheap, fuel-efficient city car—popular among students, first-time drivers, and, unfortunately, low-budget taxi services. Despite being neat and compact, it was infamous for its underwhelming engine, slow acceleration, and fragile frame. But Langley's Velkan-T4? This one had clearly seen things.

The once sleek silver paint was now a dull, patched-up mess of grays and blues. The right-side mirror had been replaced with a mismatched aftermarket piece, and the left rear door had a dent so deep it looked like it had survived a mutant riot.

Most shockingly? The exhaust pipe was being held up by what looked like industrial tape.

Barry stared at it. "You… are a trillionaire."

"Yes," Langley replied, completely unfazed.

"And this is what you drive?"

"Yes, Barry. This is what I drive."

Barry rubbed his temples. "Why?"

Langley smiled proudly. "Because it's reliable."

Barry just pointed at the taped-up exhaust. "That thing is one bad bump away from exploding."

Kai, still horrified, turned to Seraphina. "I'm walking back to Ashmere. I don't care if it takes three days."

Seraphina, crossing her arms, smirked. "Oh, come on. Where's your sense of adventure?"

Barry, shaking his head, sighed. "You know what? Fine. But if this thing breaks down in the middle of nowhere, I'm leaving you all behind."

Langley just patted the car affectionately. "She'll be fine. Now get in."

Barry, grumbling, opened the door. It creaked so loudly that even the birds nearby stopped singing.

Kai whispered, "We're gonna die."

Seraphina grinned. "Probably."

As Langley's ancient Velkan-T4 wheezed to a stop in front of the grand gates, Barry leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees as he took in the sight before him. Hall of M was massive. A fortress of knowledge, a citadel of hope.

The architecture was a masterpiece of elegance and resilience—a seamless blend of classic majesty and modern sorcery. Constructed from reinforced stone and enchanted alloys, its towering walls shimmered faintly under the sunlight, pulsing with hidden sigils that repelled intruders. Each stone bore the weight of a revolution, each pillar stood firm like the very will of the mutants who sought refuge here.

The main building loomed in the heart of the estate, an enormous academy with sweeping arches and intricate carvings across its facade. The carvings—etched in shimmering silver and obsidian—depicted the history of mutants, showing moments of their struggles and victories. One panel illustrated the signing of the Mutant Treaty Act, another the defiance of those who refused to be caged. The final carving, however, was a vision of the future Langley wished to create—a world where humans and mutants stood side by side, not as enemies, but as equals.

As they stepped out of the car, Seraphina stretched, rolling her shoulders before turning to Barry and Kai.

"Alright, boys," she said with a grin, clapping her hands together. "Time for a tour."

Barry just groaned. Kai, meanwhile, looked overwhelmed. "You're telling me you built this… in just two years?" he muttered, eyes darting across the campus.

Langley chuckled. "Money and determination can accomplish many things."

Barry snorted. "That, and probably a small army of mutant laborers."

Seraphina ignored him. She gestured toward the northwest wing. "Over there is the Dormitory Block. It's split into four main towers, each designed to accommodate different types of mutants. The West Tower is reinforced for those with super strength or unstable abilities. The South Tower has soundproofing for mutants with voice-based powers. The East Tower is temperature-controlled for those with fire or ice mutations, and the North Tower? That one is reserved for the… uh, 'troublemakers.'"

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Troublemakers?"

Seraphina grinned. "Think of it as… 'voluntary containment.' Some students are, well, a little difficult to manage."

Barry smirked. "So that's where you'll be putting this one?" He jabbed a thumb at Kai.

Kai rolled his eyes. "Hilarious."

Moving on, Seraphina pointed toward the large open courtyard between the dormitories and the main building. "This is the Memorial Plaza. See those statues?"

Scattered throughout the courtyard were monuments of past mutant leaders. They stood tall, carved from enchanted stone, their gazes locked toward the horizon as if eternally watching over the generations to come. Names like General Solas, the Fireborn Champion and Elaris Veyne, the First Mutant Scholar were engraved at their bases.

Langley sighed softly. "These are the ones who paved the way. Some fought in wars, others in courtrooms. But all of them shaped our world."

Barry huffed. "Nice sentiment, but statues don't stop bullets."

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "Moving on!"

They walked toward the eastern wing, a sprawling complex lined with reinforced glass and humming softly with energy. "This is the Research and Development Sector. This is where we study mutant genetics, test new methods of power control, and develop tech to make life easier for mutants integrating into society. We even have a neurological lab to help telepaths and psychics."

Kai blinked. "You're… studying us?"

Langley held up a hand. "Only for the purpose of understanding. Knowledge is power, Kai. If we don't know how our abilities function, how can we control them? Or defend ourselves from those who would use that ignorance against us?"

They moved next to the combat training grounds. "This," Seraphina said, sweeping her arm dramatically, "is where the fun happens."

The combat arena was massive, filled with various terrains—urban simulations, forested battlefields, obstacle courses, and even a reinforced underground chamber for extreme-level training. Automated drones whirred overhead, and a few mutants could already be seen practicing, their abilities sparking through the air.

"Students train here to control their abilities in high-stress situations," Seraphina continued. "The goal isn't just raw power—it's precision, strategy, teamwork. Knowing how to fight is one thing. Knowing when to fight? That's the real test."

Barry crossed his arms. "That explains why you kept getting punched back in Ashmere."

Seraphina scowled. "Oh, shut up."

They moved toward the south wing, which housed the Medical Center. "Many mutants have, let's just say, rough backgrounds," Langley explained. "Some come here wounded, hunted, or barely alive. This facility ensures that no mutant is left behind."

Barry nodded slowly. "Smart move."

Finally, they approached the main entrance once more. Above the grand gates, freshly installed, was the official address plaque:

Hall of M

East Coast, Arkhelion City

Silverwave Beach, Havenway Street No. 77

Postal Code: 31017-GA

Kingdom of Gallanta, Edenia

Langley smiled as he ran a hand over the plaque. "This is where it begins."

Barry sighed. "Guess I'm stuck here now, huh?"

Kai grinned. "Hey, at least you won't have to deal with mutant-hating humans every day."

Barry grumbled. "Yeah, instead, I get to babysit kids who throw fireballs when they get angry. Fantastic."

Seraphina clapped her hands. "Alright, enough sightseeing. Let's get you two settled in."

As they walked toward the food corner, Seraphina rubbed her stomach dramatically. "I swear, if I don't eat something soon, I'm gonna pass out," she grumbled.

Kai chuckled. "Didn't you just have a protein bar in the car?"

Seraphina gasps, clutching her chest. "Excuse me? That was merely a warm-up snack. A true meal is still required."

Barry shook his head. "You're a bottomless pit."

Langley chuckled but didn't comment. He knew Seraphina's metabolism was higher than normal due to her abilities—her energy consumption was almost as ridiculous as her attitude.

As they strolled through the open-air dining plaza, filled with various food stalls offering everything from grilled meats to fresh pastries, Kai's gaze wandered past the market lights to a distant, separate building. Unlike the rest of the Hall of M, which blended elegance with strength, this structure looked... different.

It was isolated, standing behind an imposing set of security barriers. The walls were made of blackened alloy, seamless and smooth, with no visible windows. The entrance had a single reinforced steel door with no obvious handle or keyhole. Overhead, small drone sentries hovered silently, scanning the area. A soft hum of energy vibrated in the air around it.

Kai frowned. "Hey… Seraphina. What's up with that place? You skipped over it during the tour."

Seraphina paused mid-step, then grinned. "Oh, that?" she said, folding her arms. "That's Cortex."

Kai tilted his head. "Cortex?"

Barry raised an eyebrow. "Sounds ominous."

Seraphina chuckled. "That's because it kinda is." She gestured toward the building. "It's Professor Langley's private domain. That place holds the most advanced psionic technology on the planet. With it, Professor can track mutants and humans alike—anywhere, anytime."

Kai's eyes widened. "Wait, you're saying he can… find anyone?"

Seraphina nodded. "With Cortex, he can scan the entire world for unique psychic signatures. It's basically the ultimate mutant radar. And not just for tracking—Cortex can also amplify his abilities."

Kai stared at Langley. "That's… kinda terrifying."

Professor smirked, his eyes gleaming with a knowing look. "Knowledge is power, Kai. And in a world where we are constantly hunted, power is survival."

Barry crossed his arms. "So, what? You just sit in there like some kind of psychic god, listening to people's thoughts?"

Langley chuckled. "No. That would be unethical." A pause. "And exhausting."

Kai shivered. "Still, the idea that you have a machine that can literally find anyone is kinda freaky."

Seraphina patted Kai's shoulder. "Welcome to the Hall of M, kid. We don't do things by halves."

Kai exhaled sharply. "Yeah, no kidding."

Langley turned, glancing at Cortex with a small smile. "In time, you'll understand," he said, almost to himself. "This is just the beginning."

With that, Seraphina grabbed Kai's arm and dragged him toward the food stalls. "Okay, enough creepy secret lairs! Let's eat before I start chewing on Barry's jacket!"

Barry rolled his eyes. "Touch my jacket, and I'm throwing you in the 'troublemaker' dorm."

Kai sighed, rubbing his temples. He had a feeling this was going to be a long, long journey.