False heroes

chapter 10: consequences

Gabriel had exactly seventeen minutes of peace before the Academy guards came for him

He spent those minutes in an empty classroom on the third floor, sitting by a window and watching rain streak down after the glass. The storm had grown stronger after his fight with Thane, as if the weather itself was responding to the power he'd unleashed

“They're coming for us, " Umbrix observed and would have reported what they saw.

‘Let them try to cage us again,”Soulrender's fragment hissed eagerly.

Violence will only make things worse, Echo said. We need to be smart about this.

Gabriel pressed his forehead against the cool glass. “I shouldn't have revealed so much. Everyone's afraid of me now”

Fear is better than being laughed at, Echo replied coldly.

Footsteps in the hallway. Multiple sets, moving with purple. Gabriel's enhanced hearing picked up the soft rustle of protective gear and the quiet of magical weapons being held.

The classroom door burst open. Six Academy guards entered, their hands glowing with containment magic. Behind them came professor Hendricks, looking tired and worried.

Gabriel Stone,” one of the guards said formally, “you need to come with us. Directors orders.”

Gabriel stood slowly, keeping his hands visible. The guards tensed, clearly afraid of him. These trained security professionals were terrified of a fifteen years old boy.

"Am I under arrest?" Gabriel asked quietly.

You're being detained for questioning.” Professor Hendricks said carefully. “Gabriel, please cooperate. Don't make this harder than it needs to be.”

Show them you choose to cooperate, Echo suggested. Choice demonstrates control.

"I'll come peacefully," Gabriel said. "You don't need the containment spells.”

The guards didn't lower their magic, but they let him pass. They formed a circle around him as they walked through the hallways. Students who saw them pressed against the walls, staring at Gabriel with wide, frightened eyes.

The Directors office was on the administrative level,where students rarely went. Director Marcus Kane stood at his window, looking out at the storm. He was a tall man in his mid-forties with gray hair and the kind of presence that commanded respect.

Leave us,” he said without turning around.

The guards hesitated. “Sir, security protocols_”

I said leave.” Director Kane's voice was quiet but absolute. “If I can't handle one student, I don't deserve this position.”

The guards reluctantly left, though they positioned themselves just outside the door. Professor Hendrick lingered briefly, then departed as well.

Gabriel stood in the center of the office, unsure what to do. Director Kane finally turned around, and Gabriel saw something unexpected in his eyes.Recognition

“I knew your parents,” Director Kane said softly.

Gabriel's breath caught. “What?”

“James and Sarah Stone. They were federation researchers, working on projects involving unusual magical phenomena.” Director Kane gestured to a chair. “Sit, we need to talk.”

Gabriel sat slowly, his mind racing. His parents had worked for the federation? They'd never told him that.

No such thing as coincidence, Echo said darkly.

“What kind of research?” Gabriel asked.

“ They studied entities from other dimensions. Power that exist outside normal magic.” Director Kane sat behind his desk. “The kind of research that got them killed when an experiment went wrong.”

The room felt colder. "They died in a car accident.”

“That the official story.” Director Kane's Express was grim. “ The truth is more complicated. They were studying something dangerous. When it broke free, it protected itself.”

He knows about us, Umbrix warned

“Why tell me this?” Gabriel asked

“Because what happened to you in that basement laboratory wasn't an accident. You found the same facility your parents worked in. You encountered the same entities they studied.” Director Kane leaned forward. “And somehow, you survived a fusion that should have destroyed your mind”

Gabriel felt ice in his stomach. The director knew everything.

“I'm not a threat,” he said quietly

“Aren't you?” Director Kane's voice was gentle but firm. “You absorbed three dangerous entities. Umbrix, Malachar’s Echo, and a fragment of Soulrender. Any one alone could level this Academy. Together…”

He didn't finish the sentence.

"I can control them," Gabriel said.

“Can you?” Director Kane pulled out a folder marked with red federation seals. “Previous goats went mad. They killed people. The Soulrender's fragment has never had a host survive more than three days.”

"I've survived a week," Gabriel pointed out.

“Which makes you either incredibly lucky or incredibly doomed.” Director Kane closed the folder. “The federation wants you brought in for study. They want to understand how you're surviving. They want to know if you can be controlled.”

He's deciding whether to hand us over,

Echo said coldly.

Shadows deepened in the corners of the office, responding to Gabriel's fear and anger.

Director Kane noticed but didn't flinch. "I'm not going to hand you over, Gabriel.”

The shadow stopped

“What?”

“Your parents were my friends. When they died, I promised I'd look after their son.” Director Kane stood and walked to the window. “ But the federation doesn't forget. They'll come for you eventually. So you have a choice.”

What choice

“Leave tonight. I can arrange transport, false documents, and a new identity. You'd be free, but you'd have to leave everything behind.”

Freedom” Soulrender whispered

“Or?” Gabriel asked

“Or stay. Learn to control your power. Prove you're not a threat. Become the hero your parents hoped you'd be.” Director Kane's eyes were intense. “But it means walking a dangerous path.”

The room was silent except for rain against the windows.

Run, Soulrender urged.

Stay, Echo countered. Use this place to grow stronger.

Choose carefully, Umbrix advised.

Gabriel thought about Emma's concern, about Marcus's friendship, about all the creatures still imprisoned and suffering like his entities had suffered.

Running would save him. Staying might destroy him. But staying meant he could make a difference.

"I'll stay," Gabriel said. "But I have conditions.”

Director Kane raised an eyebrow “your in no position to negotiate”

“Aren't I?” Gabriel let shadows dance briefly. “If I wanted to leave, could you stop me?”

A smile tugged at director Kane's lips.

“What are your conditions?”

“First, no experiments. No treating me like a laboratory specimen”

“Agreed.”

“Second, I want access to records about my parents. Everything they worked on.” Director Kane hesitated, then noodles. “I can arrange that.”

“Third, I want information about other imprisoned entities like mine, where they are, whether they're suffering.”

Director Kane looked troubled. “ That information is highly classified.”

“Then get access. Because if the federation is torturing creatures like they tortured mine, we have a bigger problem than one boy with powers.”

Director Kane studied Gabriel with new respect. “You're not trying to survive, you're planning something bigger.”

“I'm planning to stop being a victim,” he replied. “And help others do the same.”

Thunder crashed outside. Director Kane noodles slowly.

“Alright. I'll help you, as much as I can. But Gabriel if you lose control, if you become a threat, I will stop you. Buy whatever means necessary. Understand?

“I understand.”

Director Kane wrote on the official Academy letterhead and handed it to him. “ Sign this. Your rank will be adjusted to A-rank. You'll attend classes and receive special training. We'll meet weekly to discuss progress.”

Gabriel signed without hesitation.

“Thank you for not turning me in, " he said, standing.

“Thank your parents. They saved my life once.” Director Kane shook his hands. “Just try not to make me regret this”

As Gabriel reached the door, director Kane called out: “ your match with Thane that restrained was impressive. Not using all your power. That's what makes me think you might survive this. It's not the power that makes a hero, Gabriel. It's knowing when not to use it”

Gabriel left feeling lighter despite everything. The guards watched him warily but didn't stop him.

He'd made his choice. He would stay and learn to control his power. And somehow, he's helped the other creatures suffering in Federation custody.

It was ambitious. Probably impossible. Definitely dangerous.

But for the first time since the fusion, he felt like he had a purpose beyond survival.

What now? he thought.

Now, Echo said gently, we begin the real work.

Outside, the storm was clearing. Sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating the academy grounds.

Gabriel Stone walked into that light and towards whatever future awaits him.