The next day I overslept. I basically slept past my alarm. My uncle also slept his alarm. My alarm was set for 6am. When I woke up though, it was 10 in the morning. I woke up to him being super mad at himself because he would be late for his college classes and I was way past the time school would start. My school starts at 8pm So I would be over two hours late depending on the traffic.

My uncle was swearing all over the place. He walked into my room. He glared at me. 

“The head mistress called me.” 

“What did she say?” 

“She has to enroll you for your cithian power class. So you have 15 mins to get ready. I also need to get ready.”

“Meet you downstairs then?” 

“Yes, Sky.”

I got dressed in my purple shirt and blue jeans. I headed downstairs. Just like I thought,  my uncle was not waiting for me and walked up the stairs and over to Uncle’s bedroom . I knocked on his door. 

“Unkie, are you comin’? We’re gonna be late!” 

“Go wait in the living room for me. I’ll be down in a minute.” 

“Fine.” 

I started walking down the stairs and heard footsteps behind me. I felt someone touch me on my shoulders and I turned around and my uncle was standing behind me. 

“Boo!” 

“No fair! You know I don’t like to be touched!”

“Eh, I can train you out of that.” 

“No you can’t. It’s a part of me.” 

“Fine. Just walk with me to the truck then.”

 We both got in the truck. 

My uncle started the car with an auto-start button inside the car.

 “So what did it feel like to have your first malfunction?” 

“Honestly, embarrassing.” 

“I know what the moment was like. Tell me what it felt like.” 

“Different. How was my dad’s?” 

“I feel like that is something your dad should tell you.”

My unkie turned onto the highway. He looked around at the surrounding traffic. He looked at me.

“You are in for a surprise.” 

He pressed a button above the radio. We hovered above the cars as the car became smaller and wings sprouted out the sides of the car. A portal appeared in front of us and we went through it. The car sat down in front of Haystead. 

“I hope you’re ready.” 

“I’m still in amazement of what just happened.” 

“I was just in a hurry. But we should go before we are later than we are already.” 

“We walked inside and to the headmistress’ office.” 

We sat down in front of the headmistress. She looked at me. 

“My daughter told me about what happened in class yesterday.” 

“So you heard about his powers?” 

“Yes. But more importantly, you best be ready for this class, Skylar.” 

“”I don’t know if I am or not.” 

“Wow, your speech sounded slurred so I will also enroll you in speech therapy with Ms. Jenkins. But I do see that you are pretty social already.” 

“Okay.  But let’s talk about my new class.” 

“Well your dad was a power-cithian so I kinda feel like you shouldn’t try to outshine other people.” 

“Outshine?” 

“Yes. Your dad had unique abilities. His first malfunction was sitting on an orb of light.”

“Really? So do you think my powers will be the same?” 

“They might be. Everyone is different.” 

“What about my mom?” 

“I feel like you're going off subject here.” 

“That’s normal for him, mistress.” 

“I had a feeling you’d say that. Most autistic kids can’t stay on the same subject for long periods of time. But, just like on Cither, our nation was built on people just like him.” 

“You mean you’re excited to see what path I take with my autistic brain?” 

“Yes. Completely.” 

“So, are we done here?” 

“Yes. It’s time to take you to your class.” 

“Good. I’m ready to see Ms. Bloom.” 

“I know you’ve already met her. But this is your first day actually in the class. So please try to be good and be the genius I expect from your brand of people.” 

We walked to Ms. Bloom’s classroom. She opened the door. 

“Great. I’m happy you’re here Mr.Skylar for your first official day of class.” 

“So am I.” 

“My uncle crouched down and looked me in the eyes. 

“Sky please be your genius self but most importantly, be what you were born to be.” 

“Don’t quote my Dad.” 

This might be surprising but I used to live with my dad. So I know about his career. On my sixth birthday, I saw his last performance I can recall, which was when he sang his song born to be''.  I don't dream of singing like he did. After his performance, he took me to my uncle’s house and told me I would be living with him because he didn’t want me to be living in the shadow of his career and the fame that surrounded it. 

My dad left and I sat down next to  my friend, Justin. He looks at me. 

“I heard your dad is Alex Crop.” 

“Yeah. So?” 

“So, he’s a haystead legend. He was literally the first person to have a unique first malfunction.” 

“I’m sure you’re following in his footsteps. I think yours is pretty unique too.” 

“ Thanks.” 

Ms.Bloom stood in front of the class.

“Class, today we welcome a new student. He’s the son of the Haystead legend, Alex Crop.” She looked at me. “Go on, stand up and introduce yourself.”

I stood up.

“My name is Skyrid Crop. I know my dad is a legend but please just treat me like any other ordinary new student.” 

The kids all around me snickered. I hid my face.  Justin smashed his hands on his desk. 

“He’s right. But, nothing about this class is ordinary. I mean, we all literally have had malfunctions, right?” 

Everyone murmured in agreement. Miss Bloom nodded. 

“He is right. Everything comes with a price though. Today we will talk about the first two people  ever to hold warrior powers, Judedick Crop and Furliceo Woolsley. Students, open your books to  page 5.” 

We all opened our books. Ms. Bloom looks at me. 

“Skyrid, please read the first paragraph.” She says. 

“Furliceo was born after the Markson War. He was the son of Jagon and Comsit Woolsley. On his fifteenth birthday, he was the first person to touch the Maroon Heart. In him awoke a door to demon a named Matrix she was a servant of Shirak. So you could say he is the embodiment of a demon servant. He was also the first person to be an embodiment of a demon that wasn’t Shirak.” 

I raised my hand. 

“Ms.Bloom, How does this pertain to us?” 

“Great question, Skyrid. To deepen your understanding of what you’re going into with having your first malfunctions, we want to show both sides of the playing field. When you finally have your final Malfunctions and gain your power rings in your wrists, your powers will overtake you and we will not be able to help you. But, we hope to prepare you for this battle. Your powers will definitely test you. For some your powers will open doors to demons and for others they will just be unique. But for one of you, you will make history and be the one to reawaken the memories of the strikers and all other Hitons.” 

“Wow, that’s quite an answer.” 

“Any other questions?” 

Justin raised a fist in the air. 

“I suppose you have a question.” 

“Yes.” 

“I do. How many servants does Shirak have?” 

“Shirak has a numerous amount. Every human civilization stretching far across the cosmos has had people who might’ve been possessed by demons.” 

“Like Adolf Hitler?”

“Yes, Sky. But how do you know about him? You’re only six right?” 

“My dad taught all I know about people who he thought might’ve been possessed by demons. Adolf was a crazy man/ It is a definitely possibility that the holocaust was caused by demons. But we also have to say this: Jews have been attacked in history multiple times.” 

Justin glared at me.

“Do we have to bring religion into this?” 

“No. But they don’t believe Jesus in infact the christ!” 

“That’s because they thought he would be the one to defeat the romans.” 

Ms. Bloom rolled her eyes. 

“Boys, religion does not play a factor in whether things happen due to demonic possessions. But there are people out there who think that demons have been the cause of a lot of distress in different civilizations. But now let’s get to the flipside of this conversation. Skyrid, please read the next paragraph.”

“Judedick was the second person to touch the marron heart. But unlike Furliceo, his malfunction did not awaken a demon in him. Jude came from a family that was birthed from the one and only Harris Longer and his wife Riley Gertrude. His malfunction awoke a nation of people from his DNA that awakened the warrior power Gemini.” 

Justin dropped his jaw. 

“Are you saying that Skyrid’s family tree started the gene pool on cithians having powers?” 

“Yes.” 

I hid my face. 

I knew what was now coming with this namesake. My family started the crop of the gene pool of cithians. I now realize that I do come from a long line of greats. MY grandpa started the namesake of warrior powers and I intend to make him even more proud of the legend surrounding my family.

Ms. Bloom smacked her hands together loudly. 

“Class has now ended. I will see you all tomorrow for our next subject which will be prophecies surrounding the crop and woolsley families.”