False heroes

The new normal

Gabriel woke up to the familiar sound of lightning. It was his roommate Marcus practicing.

 For a moment, he laid still with his eyes closed, listening to the familiar cracks of electricity. The memory seemed distant now, like something that had happened to someone else. Which, in a way, it had. 

Good morning, Umbrix’s voice whispered in his mind, gentle as shadow at dawn

Ready for your first day as something more than human? Echo asked with dark amusement.

Try not to kill anyone accidentally, Soulrender added cheerfully.

Gabriel sat up slowly, testing his body. He felt … different. Stronger, more aware. His vision was sharper, his hearing more acute. When Marcus’s lightning crackled, he could see the magical energy itself, not just the effects of the blue white thread of power dancing between his roommate fingers. 

You're up early,Marcus said without turning around. He was Gabriel’s age but was built like a young ox, with the kind of natural magic talent that made everything look effortless. His rank collar glowed a steady white Rank 156, respectable if not outstanding. 

"Couldn't sleep," Gabriel replied, which was partly true. He'd spent half the night learning to quiet the voices in his head.

 Marcus finally turned around, and Gabriel had to suppress a gasp. With his new void sight, he could see so much more than before. Marcus's magical aura visible as a crackling Corona around his body. His emotions showed as coloured mists, curiosity tinged with concern. And underneath it all he could sense his roommate’s life force, beating like a second heartbeat. 

Overwhelming at first, Umbrix observed. You will learn to filter what you see.

“You look different,” Marcus said, studying Gabriel’s face. “ Did something happen last night?”

Gabriel’s blood went cold. Could Marcus see the change somehow? Different how?”. 

I don't know. More alive, I guess you usually shuffle around like a zombie in the morning.” 

Careful, Echo warned. Even small changes in behavior can raise a suspension. 

Gabriel forced himself to slump his shoulders and adopt his usual defeated posture. “ Just nervous about the ranking battles, I guess. Can't believe I agreed to that.” 

 Marcus' expression softened with sympathy. “Yeah, about that ….. Gabriel, you don't have to go through with it. Everyone would understand if you change your mind.” 

"Thane would never let me forget it."

"Thane’s an ass. And honestly? What he's doing to you is going to catch up with him eventually. The Academy doesn't like bullies who go too far.” 

Gabriel almost laughed at that. The Academy was built on hierarchy and competition. Bullying was practically encouraged as long as it stayed within certain bounds. But Marcus meant well, so Gabriel just nodded. 

"I'll be fine," he lied.

You will be more than fine, Soulrender purred. You could reduce that Morrison boy to component atoms with a thought. 

We are not here for petty revenge, Umbrix reminded them both. We have larger concerns. 

Gabriel quickly got dressed and gathered his books, eager to escape before Marcus noticed anything else unusual. But as he reached for the door handle, his roommate spoke again. 

“Gabriel?” If you need help training for the battles… I mean, I'm not great, but I'm better than nothing. The offer stands.”

For a moment, Gabriel felt a stab of genuine affection for his roommate. Marcus had never been cruel to him, never joined in the mockery. He'd simply existed in parallel, polite but distant. Now he was offering help to someone everyone considered hopeless.

“Thanks,” Gabriel said, and meant it. “I’ll think about it.” 

He left the dormitory quickly, before Marcus could see the way shadows seemed to bend toward Gabriel’s feet.

The Academy’s main hallway buzzed with unusual energy. Students clustered in small groups, their voices excited and nervous. Gabriel caught fragments of conversation as he passed. 

explosion in the basement levels”

three containment units completely destroyed”

Federation investigators arriving this morning”

Gabriel’s new enhanced hearing picked up much more than his normal sense ever could have. Students were talking about the laboratory incident, but most of their information was wrong. Rumors of escaped demons, failed experiments, even terrorist attacks swirled through the crowds. 

Let them speculate, Echo said with amusement. The truth is so much stranger than their fears

Gabriel kept his head down and moved through the hallway like he had always been invisible and unnoticed. But now he could see everything around him with perfect clarity, the magical auras of the fellow students, the detection spells woven into the Academy's walls, the fear scent coming off the younger students who’d heard about the “incident”. 

“Stone”.

Gabriel’s heart jumped, but he forced himself to turn slowly. Thane stood near the main staircase with his usual group of followers, but something was different. Instead of the typical cruel, confident expression he wore. Thane looked almost…. excited.

“Did you hear?” Thane asked as Gabriel approached reluctantly. “ Something big happened last night. They're saying dangerous creatures escaped from some secret laboratory 

He has no idea how right he is, Soulrender observed.

"Oh," Gabriel said, trying to sound appropriately worried. "That's... scary.”

“Scary?” Thane laughed. “It's incredible! real monsters, actual threats. This is what we've been training for!” His face locked on Gabriel with predatory interest. “ Of course, if there are dangerous creatures loose in the Academy, the ranking battles might be postponed indefinitely. For safety reasons.” 

Gabriel felt a chill. If the battles were cancelled, Thane's deal was off. The bullying would continue, maybe get worse. 

“ But probably not,” Thane continued with false casualness. “ I mean, what kind of hero academy would we be if we let a little danger stop us? The battles are still on, Stone. Five days and counting.” 

Relief and dread filled Gabriel’s chest; part of him was terrified of facing Thane in combat. But the other part, the part that now carried ancient power, was eager to show this arrogant bully exactly how wrong he was about everything.

Patience, Umbrix counseled. Let him dig his own grave. 

I'll be ready," Gabriel said quietly.

"Will you?” Thane stepped closer, his confidence was like an expensive cologne. “Because I've been thinking about our little wager. Twenty silver that you don't land a single hit. But maybe we should raise the stake.” 

“What do you mean?” 

I mean,"Thane said his voice, gathering students around them, “ let's make this interesting for everyone. If you somehow managed to land a hit on me just one I'll leave you alone for the rest of the year. Not just a month. The entire year.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. A year of peace from Thane was worth silver to Gabriel

“And if I don't hit you?” Gabriel asked though he already suspected the answer 

Thane's grin was sharp as a blade.” Then you transfer out of the Academy. Officially. You admit you never belonged here and leave for good.” 

The hallway went silent. Students pressed closer, sensing drama. Gaby felt dozens of eyes on him, waiting for his response. The old Gabriel would have backed down, would have found a way to refuse 

But the old Gabriel was dead.

Say yes, Echo urged. Let them raise the stakes. It will make their defeat more complete 

Careful, Umbrix warned. Too much confidence would draw suspicion 

Gabriel looked around at the watching faces. Emma stood near the back of the crowd, her violet eyes wide with concern. Zara Chen was there too, that same mysterious smile on her face. Even Maya Thronwick had stopped to watch, her red hair catching the morning light. 

One year of peace if I hit you once?” Gabriel said slowly.

“ That's right.” 

“ And you want me to leave the Academy forever if I don't?” 

Correct,"Thane's confidence was absolute. “ What do you say, stone? Ready to put your money on it?” 

Gabriel felt the power stirring in his chest shadow and starfire and the cutting edge of reality itself. For just a moment, he let a tiny fraction of it show in his eyes

Deal," he said.

The crowd erupted in excited chatter. Bets were placed, odds calculated. Thane's followers clapped him on the back, already celebrating his victory. But Gabriel noticed the worried look on Emma's face 

Five days, Soulrender whispered eagerly. Give whole days until we show them the definition of real power

Remember, Umbrix said, we want to win, but we don't want to reveal too much. 

Where's the fun in that? Echo asked let them see what they created 

Gabriel nodded to Thane and pushed through the crowd, heading for his first class. Behind him, the excited chatter continued. His fellow students were already treating this like the entertainment of the year the powerless nobody versus the raising star, with everything on the line 

They had no idea what was really coming 

Magical Theory class was a special kind of torture for the old Gabriel, professor Hendrick had a habit of calling on him to demonstrate basic concept, then watching with forced patience as Gabriel failed everytime. Today should be no different. 

But today, Gabriel could see magic 

“Mr stone,” professor Hendrick called as Gabriel tried to make himself invisible in the back row. “ Perhaps you'd like to share with us the demonstration for basic energy circulation?” 

Nervous laughter filled the room. This was routine humiliation, Gabriel stood and walked to the front of the class, feeling fifty pairs of eyes tracking his movement.

Professor Hendrick handed him a practice crystal, the same kind Gabriel had failed to light hundred of times before.” Just focus your energy into the crystal, Mr stone. Just as we discussed many times.” 

Gabriel took the crystal and stared at it with his new pair of eyes he could see how it worked the magical pathways curved into its structure, the response point and the type of energy. It was actually quite simple. 

Too simple, Echo observed. You could power that crystal with a single breath.

Don't, Umbrix warned sharply. Remember you are still Gabriel stone, the failure 

Gabriel nodded and held the crystal up. He closed his eyes, pretending to concentrate, and … did nothing. 

“ Perhaps if you actually tried, Mr Stone?" Professor Hendrick suggested with irritation 

More laughter. Gabriel felt heat rise in his cheeks this was embarrassment, 

Control, Umbrix whispered. 

Gabriel took a deep breath and tried again. The crystal reminded me of the dark.

“Very well, professor Hendrick sighed. “Take your seat, Mr Stone. Maybe someone else could demonstrate. Miss Nightwhisper?"

Emma stood gracefully and accepted the crystal. Her touch immediately made it glow, not really powerful, but steady and controlled.

As Gabriel returned to his seat, he caught Emma's eyes. She was looking at him with an expression he couldn't quite ready. Almost like she was trying to solve a puzzle.

She suspects something, Echo said.

Eleves have high sensitivity, Umbrix agreed. She may be able to detect that you're …. different.

Gabriel made a mental note to be carried around Emma. The last thing he needed was someone with prophetic abilities taking a close look at him.

The rest of the class passed in its usual wave of theory and practice. Gabriel took notes, answered questions incorrectly when called upon, while keeping his facade of hopelessness. 

He understood now. Magic wasn't mysterious or complex, it was just another way of manipulating reality. And with the power of three ancient beings flowing through him, reality was nothing more than fries.

Patience, Umbrix reminded him as the class bell rang. Five more days till a part of his charade was over. 

Gabriel gather

ed his books and left before the other students. Only five days until the ranking battles. Five days until Gabriel Stone stopped being the Academy’s weakest student. 

He could hardly wait