False heroes

The day before

One day until the ranking battles, and Gabriel Stone was losing his mind.

He sat in the Academy’s library, surrounded by the dusty books on basic combat theory, while the three entities argued about the strategy. Other students gave his comer a wide berth partly because he was still the failure they knew, but mostly because the temperature had dropped ten degrees and shadows kept moving whenever he didn't pay attention.

We should end this quickly, Soulrender urged for the hundredth time. One cut through his defenses, sliced him from his shoulder to hip.

We want to win the wager, not start a war with the federation. A simple strike enough to prove our point would be enough. Umbrix countered. 

You're both thinking too small, Echo said with cold amusement. This is about one arrogant boy. This is a message to the others.

Gabriel pressed his palms against his temples, trying to quiet the voices. The dream has been getting worse. Last night he found himself sleepwalking, standing in the Academy’s courtyard at three in the morning with void energy crackling around his hands. 

"Rough night?"

Gabriel looked up to see Zara Chen sliding into the chair across from him. Up close, her dark eyes were more unsettling too knowing, too amused like she was a joke no one else could see. 

"Every night's rough lately," Gabriel muttered.

“ I imagined so.” Zara opened a notebook and pretended to study, but Gaby caught her stealing glances at him. “Big day tomorrow. Everyone’s talking about it.”

"Everyone's talking about how quickly I'm going to lose."

"Are they?" Zara's smile widened. "I've been hearing different conversations."

Gabriel's new sense picked up the lie immediately. Her heartbeat was steady, her scent calm, but there was something else: anticipation, excitement, she was fishing for information. 

The information broker wants to know what we are, Umbrix observed.

She suspects more than she's letting on, Echo agreed.

"What kind of conversations?" Gabriel asked carefully.

“Well,” Zara leaned closer, lowering her voice, “ some of the older students have been asking questions about you. Why someone completely powerless would be enrolled after three years.

Gabriel's blood chilled. "What older students?"

“ Maya, for one. She's been asking around about your background, your family, your admission records, everything.” 

The fire girl suspects something, Soulrender noted with interest.

“ And then there's the other thing,” Zara continued, her voice dropping to barely a whisper. “ The incident in the basement. Some very interesting items went missing that night. Dangerous items.” 

Gabriel forced himself to remain calm, but inside, all three entities were suddenly alert. 

“I wouldn't know anything about that” he said "

“Of course not.” Zara’s smile never wavered. “You were probably asleep in your dorm, completely unaware of any mysterious explosion or missing divine entities” 

The way she said entities made Gabriel’s skin crawl. She knew. Somehow, this girl who was supposed to be a mid ranked nobody knew exactly what happened that night. 

How much does she know? Gabriel thought. 

Enough to be dangerous, Umbrix replied grimly.

“what do you want?” He asked 

“Want? Nothing. I'm just making conversation.” She closed her notebook and stood up. “Good luck tomorrow, Gabriel. I have a feeling it's going to be a very enlightening match for everyone involved.” 

She walked away before Gabriel could respond, leaving him alone with his racing thoughts and whispered argument of the three entities. 

She knows too much, Soulrender stated 

She could expose everything. Echo purred 

Or she could be an ally, Umbrix said thoughtfully. Information brokers value secrets. She might be more interested in keeping ours than revealing them.

Gabriel wasn't sure which possibility scared him more 

That afternoon brought Gabriel’s last combat training session before the battles. Professor Dalton, a grizzled ex- hero with scars covering half his face,had paired the students off for sparring practice. Gabriel found himself facing opponents who pulled their punches and treated him like a fragile child. 

Today's partner was a second year student named Kevin, whose earth magic let him create small shields and barriers. Kelvin was kind enough, but Gabriel could see the pity in his eyes as they squared off on the practice mat.

“Just do your best, Kevin said gently, raising his hands in a defensive stance. “I won't hurt you.”

He thinks we're helpless, Soulrender snarled. Show him how wrong he is.

No, Gabriel though firmly, we maintain the act.

The sparring session was exactly what everyone expected. Gabriel stumbled through basic defensive moves while Kevin gently tapped him with a practice weapon made of hardened earth. Other students watched with bored expression as this was an old routine, Gabriel stone failing at everything. 

But halfway through the session, Gabriel’s concentration slipped. 

Kevin had just disarmed him for the third time when a group of first year students on the next mat started laughing. Not at their own sparring, but at Gabriel’s pathetic performance. One of them made a comment about “charity cases” loud enough for everyone to hear 

For just a moment, Gabriel's control cracked.

Power surges through him like liquid fire. The shadow on this practice mat deepened, and Kevin's next earth sword shattered against what would have been Gabriel’s defenseless arm. The sound echoed like a gunshot through the training hall.

Silence fell.

Kevin stared at his broken weapon in shock. “How did you..?”

“Lucky block,” Gabriel said quickly, his voice higher than usual. “I guess I got the angle right for once.” 

Professor Dalton looked over with raised eyebrows. “Interesting. Mr stone, demonstrate that block again”

Gabriel’s heart hammered as he faced Kevin again. This time he made sure to stumble properly, letting Kevin's practice sword tap him harmlessly on the shoulder.

“Hmm.” Professor Dalton looked disappointed. “Must have been a fluke. Continue.” 

The rest of the session passed without incident, but Gabriel caught several students watching him with puzzled expression. Emma's concerned gaze followed him throughout the class, and even Maya seemed to be paying more attention than usual. 

You're losing control, Umbrix warned as they filed out of the training hall.

The pressure is building. Echo observed. Tomorrow's battle may come as a relief, even for the risks. 

Or it may destroy everything we've worked for, Soulrender added cheerfully.

Gabriel tried not to think about that possibility.

Dinner was a nightmare of whispered conversation and speculative glances. The entire academy buzzed with excitement about tomorrow's ranking battles, and Gabriel's match with Thane had become the main event. Students he'd never spoken to came up to him to wish luck not because they thought he'd win but because they felt sorry for him. 

The betting had reached insane levels. Some students were wagering their entire monthly allowance on various aspects of Gabriel's defeat. The current favorite was he'd surrender before Thane even attacked.

If only they knew, Echo said with amusement. 

Gabriel was picking at his dessert when Emma sat down beside him, her expression serious 

“We need to talk,” she said quietly. "

“ About what?” 

“About tomorrow. About what you're planning.” Emma's violet eyes were intense. “ Gabriel, I had another vision last night. Clearer than before. 

Gabriel's fork stopped halfway to his mouth.” What did you see?”

“ Fire and shadow. Ancient beings, and you, standing in the center of it all, but that wasn't you. Something wearing your face, but older, colder.” Emma gripped his arm. “Something that could end the world if it wanted.” 

She sees too much, all three entities said in unison.

"Emma….”

"I don't care what you're hiding,” I don't care how dangerous it is. But please please be careful tomorrow. The vision… it felt more like a warning.” 

Before Gabriel could respond, she was gone, leaving him alone with his fear and whispered argument of the three entities that might be capable of ending the world

One day. One day until he stepped into the arena and discovered whether Gabriel Stone could control the forces within him, or they would control him.

Outside the dining hall window, storm clouds gathered over the Academy ground, heavy with the promise of rain 

The calm before the storm was ending.