Chapter: The Road to Awakening
The classroom buzzed with electric excitement. Students chattered loudly, wide smiles plastered across their faces as the morning sun streamed through the windows. Desks rattled as people stood to celebrate, clapping and laughing after the teacher's announcement.
"Class B, you'll all be heading to the Awaken Special Training Ground this afternoon. You'll meet elite heroes, some of whom rank in the top ten! This is an opportunity few students get!"
Gasps echoed around the room.
"No way! Are we really going to meet Hero Nice?!"
"I heard Mighty's going to be there too! Oh my god, I can't believe it!"
"This is like a dream come true!"
But amid the cheer and clamor, Eli Calamaki sat alone at his desk, head bowed, eyes glued to the wooden surface. His thoughts weren't on meeting heroes. They were trapped in the whirlwind of confusion and betrayal that had swallowed his life whole. Rebecca's slap still echoed in his mind. The hurtful words from his classmates were carved into his heart.
"Why? What did I do wrong?" he muttered under his breath.
---
Elsewhere...
Inside the pristine halls of the Hero Headquarters, Hero Faded – also known as Mr. Anderson – sat in a dimly lit office, replaying the same footage over and over. The video showed Vile, the rogue threat, attacking three awakened heroes mercilessly. Each corpse bore the same cryptic marking: the letter "E."
Anderson's eyes didn't flinch. They were cold, calculating.
"Where is Eli Calamaki?" Vile had said again in the footage. The same words. Always the same.
A soft knock broke his focus.
"Mr. Anderson? Or should I say Mr. Faded?" Karen, his assistant, stepped into the room with a casual smile.
He glanced up, softening just slightly. "Karen, aren't you supposed to be working?"
"I'm not too busy. Just wanted to check how you were doing with the Eli case."
Faded turned his eyes back to the laptop screen. "Vile has attacked forty-three awakened heroes. Forty-three. All with the same mark. All asking the same question. He's not just looking for Eli... he's hunting him."
Karen crossed her arms. "But why a student? What connection does a kid have with a threat as dangerous as Vile?"
"I've asked myself that countless times," Faded said, leaning back in his chair. "But when I first met Eli... he was just a boy. He shielded his mother with everything he had. A spark in his eyes. Courage, even in the face of death. He didn't run."
Karen paused. "You think he's important somehow."
Faded nodded. "I do. I believe Eli is the key to something the threats are looking for. Maybe... even something bigger than we know."
"Have you heard what the agency decided?"
His face darkened. "Yes. They want to eliminate him."
"What do you plan to do?"
Faded looked torn. "I don't know, Karen. It's a hard decision. But I won't let a boy die for something he might not understand. Not until I know the truth."
---
Back at the Academy...
Class B boarded the bus. Everyone was still abuzz with excitement. Eli, however, found a seat alone at the back. He leaned his head against the window, watching the blur of buildings pass by. Thoughts consumed him.
Just then, a girl flopped into the seat beside him.
"You're Eli, right?" she grinned.
Eli blinked in surprise. It was Catherine – the girl with snake abilities. Her piercing yellow eyes seemed to read his soul.
"Aren't you supposed to stay away from me?" Eli asked cautiously.
She smirked. "Stay away from you? No way. I heard rumors. Some say you're the strongest in the class. Some even say you might be a half-human, half-threat hybrid. That's why they're after you. That's why I'm here. I'm looking for someone strong to crush. You might be my best shot."
Eli turned slowly toward her, his face unreadable. "I'm not looking for a fight."
"Too bad," she chuckled, stretching her arm lazily. Scales rippled across her skin. "Because I am."
---
Arrival at the Awaken Training Grounds...
The bus pulled up to the massive gates of the Awaken Special Training Grounds. As the students disembarked, they were met with an awe-inspiring sight.
Standing tall and proud before them were some of the greatest heroes of their generation:
Hero Nice – The Number 1 Hero, radiant in his golden armor. Mighty – Number 2, a towering force of pure muscle and speed. Flowless – Number 10, the silent blade, whose presence alone demanded respect.
The students erupted into screams and cheers.
"It's Hero Nice!"
"Oh my God, FLOWLESS is actually here!"
"This is insane! We're actually training under them!"
Catherine elbowed Eli. "Excited yet? Maybe one of them can knock the truth out of you."
She poked and prodded him, wrapped her snake-like tail briefly around his leg, and whispered teasing threats.
"Bet you won't last five minutes." "I heard you cry when you sleep. That true, Calamaki?" "Or maybe you're just pretending to be human. Wouldn't surprise me."
Eli tried to remain calm, but her words cut deep. His fists clenched on his lap.
Rebecca stood at a distance, watching the interaction. Her expression was unreadable – a mixture of curiosity and guilt. She didn't speak, didn't interfere.
Flowless narrowed her eyes when she spotted Eli. "So... that's the boy we're supposed to keep tabs on," she thought. "He doesn't look dangerous."
Mighty stepped beside her. "Don't be fooled. That boy might be the key to humanity's fall."
Eli caught sight of the two heroes exchanging looks. He knew he wasn't safe. Not here. Not anywhere.
Finally, the lead teacher and the heroes approached the massive gate.
"Let the game begin!" the teacher shouted.
The crowd cheered, but Eli... Eli couldn't hear it.
His heart was heavy. The presence of so many heroes around, the whispers, the way some of them looked at him—it was all too much.
"What am I?" he whispered.
A boy without answers. A hero under suspicion. And the threats... still coming for him.