Your second question will maybe uncover more of Z's mystery. "What was your answer to the 'Why do you want to be a hero' question?"
Z glowers a bit but recovers with a smile quickly enough. No one but you and Flashfire notice. Flashfire's expression is sympathetic, as if he knows something about Z's past and why he might react that way.
"You know, defend the hood and junk like that. I wasn't too specific, which Gladiator didn't like," he says. Again, you can tell that was only half the story.
Before you can ask a third question, the amphitheater lights flicker.
Orientation Begins
Everyone turns their attention to the stage, lit up with several multicolored lights. Energetic, triumphant music blares from speakers all around, and a bouncy, dancing Rainbow runs onto the stage with a huge smile. "Hey, fellow students!" Anywhere else, people might laugh at the strange lights coming from her mouth, but she synchronizes them with the stage lights, so they look pretty cool. "I'm honored to say, welcome to Evos Academy, future heroes!"
Everyone cheers.
When the cheering dies down, she continues, "And now, let me introduce this year's instructors. Gladiator, Gearhead, and the Cloak! Give it up for the Wardens of Truth!"
Your three instructors take the stage. The Cloak simply steps out of a shadow and stands still closer to the back of the stage. Similarly, Gladiator lands from what must have been a superjump from a football field away. The stage is strong enough to take the landing, but a shock wave fills the auditorium just the same. She's adorned in full armor with a gladius at her side but doesn't showboat.
The crowd erupts when she arrives, but the adoration doesn't faze her.
Gearhead arrives on stage via his hover boots, and there's a burst of pyrotechnic flames the moment he lands. For such a normal guy, he also knows how to make an entrance.
Rainbow hands him the microphone.
"Thank you, Rainbow!" Gearhead says enthusiastically. "And thank you, this year's Evos Academy students!"
Everyone cheers again.
Next
As Gearhead goes into what sounds like a prepared speech about heroism and the goals of heroism, you feel like someone is watching you. After a few minutes, it starts to irk you, so you look around for a possible culprit.
In the back of the amphitheater, standing alone and without fanfare, is Brilliant, and his eyes are locked on you.
Z looks over and sees what you're staring at. "Holy shit! Is that freakin' Brilliant?" he asks, a little louder than he meant to. He grabs you and ducks down to hopefully avoid detection. Everyone ignored his outburst. "I can't believe Brilliant is here."
"He was there for the White Room Trial," you say.
"He was?" Z responds. "Brilliant didn't come to mine. Was he at yours, Flashfire? Lizzie?" The students shake their heads. "I knew it! There must be somethin' special about you, Prodigy. I wish he was one of my judges."
A few nearby students shush you and Z, so you quiet down and return to Gearhead's speech.
"…and that's why there are sixty students this year instead of twenty," Gearhead says. "It's going to be a great year, though, and don't hesitate to visit Administration to check in with one of your three mentors. It's a safe space. The Wardens of Truth may need us from time to time, but you're our priority always." He tries to hand the mic to Gladiator to say a few words, but she gives him a move-on stare, so he instead gives it to the Cloak, who grabs the handle with a shadow tentacle.
As the mic floats in front of her, the Cloak simply says, "Classes start tomorrow." She gives it to Rainbow, who ends the orientation with a chant of "Let's go, Evos!" that the crowd repeats over and over, ramping up into glorious applause.
You slow clap, your eyes thoroughly rolled, while most of the others around you are enthusiastic. You've never been one for school spirit or rooting for theoretical teams. The proof in the pudding would be how this year goes. Then you'll choose whether to genuinely clap or not.
After a moment, you look again, and Brilliant is gone. You still feel haunted.
Everyone departs the amphitheater, retreating to their rooms. Almost as soon as you're both back at Dawn Hall, Z passes out. At least he doesn't snore. Lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, you make various trinkets in your room float around in fun patterns to distract yourself.
You've been part of the superhero game for a long time and convinced yourself you're not new to this. In truth, however, Evos Academy is a whole new ball game.
Classes start tomorrow. You've got to be ready.
Next Chapter