A GOD'S WAY OF JUDGEMENT

Ronan pushed open the heavy classroom door, stepping into a sea of eager faces. As he entered, the buzz of conversation faded, replaced by a hushed reverence. Every student turned to him, eyes wide with admiration. Whispers spread like wildfire: “There’s Ronan! He’s the one who saved us from that terrorist attack!”

Alex followed closely behind, acutely aware of the collective gaze that shifted between the two of them. He could sense the admiration not just for Ronan but also for himself, the ‘best student’ in their class, known for his intellect and prowess. It filled him with a mix of pride and embarrassment.

“Looks like we’re celebrities now,” Ronan said, a smirk playing on his lips as they walked toward their usual seats at the back of the class.

“Yeah, but you’re the real hero,” Alex replied, unable to hide his smile. “Everyone’s talking about you. And don’t forget, they’re saying I’m the best in class too. Guess we make quite the team, huh?”

Ronan chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “The dynamic duo: the hero and the genius! But let’s not get too caught up in the fame. We’ve got classes to get through.”

They settled into their seats, the chatter of their classmates rising once more as they exchanged stories and opinions about the recent events. Ronan leaned closer to Alex, a playful glint in his eyes.

“So, what classes are we looking at today?” Ronan asked, pulling out his notebook.

“I think we have nuclear physics first,” Alex replied, glancing at the syllabus. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Sounds exciting,” Ronan said, feigning enthusiasm. “But hey, don’t worry too much about my studies, okay? Whatever they teach, I have more knowledge than them. Let’s just enjoy our time here.”

Alex laughed, shaking his head. “I know about you, alright. But actually, I wanted to ask you something important…” He hesitated, searching for the right words, but before he could continue, the door swung open again.

The lecturer strode in, and an immediate hush fell over the room. Dressed in a sharp suit with glasses perched on his nose, he exuded authority. “Welcome, everyone. Today, we’ll dive into nuclear physics,” he announced, his voice commanding.

Alex’s focus shifted entirely to the lecturer, who launched into an intricate explanation of atomic structures. Alex leaned forward, soaking in every detail, his pen flying across the paper as he took notes.

Meanwhile, Ronan’s attention drifted. Instead of following along, he flipped to a blank page in his notebook and began to scribble complex codes and equations, his mind wandering far beyond the confines of the classroom.

Curiosity flickered in Alex’s mind as he glanced at Ronan’s page. The intricate symbols and numbers made no sense to him, but he opted to ignore it, focusing instead on the lecture.

As the professor illustrated a particularly complicated diagram, Alex’s gaze darted back to Ronan, who seemed completely unfazed by the lecture.

“Ronan,” he whispered, but Ronan was lost in thought, his pencil dancing across the page with precision.

“Ronan!” Alex tried again, but Ronan remained absorbed in his own world, the codes taking shape in front of him.

The class continued, and the lecture flowed seamlessly, but Alex found his mind drifting between the lessons and the enigma of his friend beside him. He admired Ronan’s genius but wondered what thoughts occupied his mind, hoping to connect with him later when the lecture was over.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, Ronan closed his notebook with a satisfied smile, oblivious to the world around him.

“Ready for the next one?” he asked, turning to Alex, who was still processing the lecture.

“Yeah, let’s go,” Alex replied, still curious about what Ronan had been working on but deciding to let it go for now.

As they stood to leave, the admiration of their classmates lingered in the air, a reminder that Ronan was not just a student but a beacon of hope and resilience for them all.

As the next class began, the title "Combat Systems and Applications" was prominently displayed on the board. The room was filled with various weapon parts, creating an environment that buzzed with anticipation.

Ronan turned to Alex. “What happens in this class?”

Alex smiled, excitement lighting up his face. “This is like a lab. They’ll teach us about the parts, then guide us on how to assemble one weapon. After that, we get to test fire it at the shooting range.”

Ronan raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “What if the weapon isn’t properly made? Won’t that risk injury?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Alex reassured him. “The instructors check everything before we fire.”

As the lecture commenced, Ronan found a seat in front of a box filled with parts. The lecturer began explaining the components of the weapon system, and Alex listened intently, scribbling notes. Ronan, however, felt his interest wane. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he started assembling the gun while the lecturer continued with the lesson.

With remarkable speed, Ronan pieced the weapon together. Suddenly, without warning, he fired at the target. The bullet zipped through the air, narrowly missing his classmates and striking the target with a resounding thud. The machine declared a “Perfect Score.”

A stunned silence fell over the classroom. The lecturer, eyes wide in disbelief, demanded, “Mr. Arcanveil, why did you fire?”

Ronan shrugged, a hint of mischief in his smile. “Wasn’t that what I was supposed to do? I assembled the gun quickly and aimed for the target.”

The lecturer, still processing the situation, replied incredulously, “Next time, please don’t repeat this. We first assemble the weapon, then I check the quality before you fire.”

Ronan nodded, a bit sheepishly. “I didn’t quite get the teaching style here; I might have mixed it up with my past instructors’ methods.”

The lecturer muttered under his breath, bewildered. “Who teaches like that?”

The students, caught between shock, fear, and admiration, exchanged glances. Alex leaned in, a grin spreading across his face. “You did it again.”

The bell rang, signaling the start of lunch, and Ronan and Alex made their way to the bustling cafeteria. The aroma of various foods filled the air as students chattered and laughed around them. They found a table and sat down, the noise of the cafeteria swirling around them.

As Ronan took a big bite of his burger, Alex leaned in closer, his expression serious. “Ronan, I need your advice about something.”

“Yeah? What’s up?” Ronan mumbled through a mouthful of food.

Before Alex could respond, a girl approached their table, her gaze fixed on him. “Hey! What did you decide finally?” she asked, a mix of curiosity and expectation in her voice.

Caught off guard, Alex suddenly coughed on his food. “Let me plan it first!” he spluttered, his cheeks flushing.

The girl raised an eyebrow but smiled. “Fine, but don’t take too long!” With a quick glance back at him, she turned and walked away.

Alex’s gaze shifted back to Ronan, his eyes wide with urgency. “You’ve got to help me now.”

Ronan leaned forward, sensing the tension in his friend’s voice. “Looks like something's going on. What’s the plan?”