VOLUME 1 - CHAPTER 2

Homeroom was chaos.

The teacher barely had to say a word before the class exploded into cheers. "Everyone, settle down!" she tried, waving her clipboard. "Yes, it's true... We've been invited to tour Helios Dynamics. This is a rare privilege, so please-conduct yourselves with dignity."

Half the class didn't even hear her over their excitement.

A kid behind me leaned forward. "Hey, Ellie, maybe you'll finally get to see your girlfriend for the first time..."

"Shut up before I beat your ass," I replied with a sweet, disturbingly calm smile.

The class went quiet.

"...Is she gonna beat him too?" someone whispered, barely holding in laughter.

"I heard she fought an upperclassman two days ago for calling Storm ugly."

"Who knew she could fight?"

"They do say don't judge a book by its cover..."

"Scary... and kinda cool at the same time."

"Man, I wish I was her boyfriend. Just thinking about it makes me wanna hug her angry face."

I ignored them.

I made a vow to beat anyone who insults my hero - and that upperclassman absolutely deserved it.

Ugh... just thinking about it makes me mad.

...Wait.

Who am I even talking to right now?

Before I could spiral further into my own thoughts, the teacher cleared her throat loudly.

"Stop whispering and focus! Unless you want Elliana to personally address your little rumors..."

The room went silent.

"Good," she continued with a tight smile. "We leave right after lunch along with the third-year students. Remember, this is not a playground. Helios Dynamics is the most advanced facility in Nova Yorka. One mistake could end your career before it even starts."

That sobered everyone. Even me.

The Tesseract..... The heart of this city and it's power.... Well... excluding the four villain cities to the north - who are somehow too busy fighting each other and the heroes over control of it.

Whatever.

I'm finally going to see it in person..... And maybe... just maybe... I'll get to see her.

The afternoon bell rang, and Arclight High's cafeteria emptied faster than I had ever seen. Students rushed out with half-eaten lunches, stampeding toward the transport trams.

And I was at the very front.... No way I'm missing this.

"Naomi, hurry up!" I shouted, halfway down the stairs and nearly tripping over my untied shoelaces.

Naomi sighed, jogging to catch up. "If you break your leg now, you'll miss the trip entirely."

"I'll limp there if I have to!!" I declared, eyes blazing with a determination.

The school had rented two maglev trams. Sleek and silver, they hummed with barely contained power as they hovered above the rails. Inside, students buzzed with excitement, pressing against the windows as Nova Yorka stretched out beneath us.

I squished my nose against the glass like a kid seeing candy for the first time.

"Naomi, Naomi! Look! The skyline is insane from up here!"

She pulled me back before I permanently branded the window with my face. "You've seen this city a hundred times."

"Not from this high! Look at the towers - like steel teeth biting the clouds! And the banners! Oh! That one's advertising Silver Fang's new merch drop!"

Naomi glanced lazily. "You already own three of his jackets."

"Yes, but that one has reflective lining... I need it."

"Ellie," a voice cut in.

David leaned over from across the aisle - the guy I sometimes ate lunch with.

"You'd bankrupt yourself if heroes started charging for the air they breathe." He smirked and shoved his phone in my face. "My hero, HYDRO, is way cooler than those low-tier heroes."

On his screen was a poster of HYDRO looking dramatic with water swirling around him.

"Oh, he's the new S-Rank who took first place last week, right?" I asked.

"Yep. Youngest hero ever - eighteen years old. And the only hero that shows no mercy to villains. Or anyone who threatens the city. Best hero alive."

I stared at the screen.

By no mercy, he means he beats criminals so hard they reconsider their life choices in the afterlife... And somehow that qualifies as public service.

I puffed up. "Storm is better! He's just keeping the number one seat warm for my queen....!"

Naomi tugged my sleeve. "Ellie. Volume."

I sank into my seat, cheeks burning. "Sorry... but One day they'll understand. My Storm actually cares about people. Not ranks. Not money. Not glory."

Naomi softened slightly. "I know. You don't have to convince me."

I blinked. "Wait... really?"

Is she saying that to make me happy?... That's, so sweet...!

Naomi looked away quickly. " hey...Don't get the wrong idea."

I grinned so wide my face hurt. " Hahaha!...... I knew you had taste!" I said, tapping her shoulder.

She muttered, "Try putting the same effort into your studies as you do into defending heroes. Maybe then your grades would rank S-Class too...."

As the tram neared Helios Dynamics, the city changed.

Skyscrapers grew taller, sleeker - black glass reflecting the sky like mirrors. Electric cars flowed through pristine streets while uniformed agents patrolled every corner. Even the air felt different - charged, heavy with invisible energy.

I pressed my palms against the window. "Naomi... this is it. The science capital of the world. Do you think the Tesseract Core is glowing right now? Maybe humming with cosmic energy? Or floating in a chamber carved with ancient runes-...."

"You've been reading too many comics..."

"It powers the city! No one knows what it looks like or what it's capable of! What if it's a giant cube of swirling energy? Or a tiny star trapped in a bottle? Or the reason people can use supernatural abilities?!"

Naomi's lips twitched. "Or it's a blue paperweight."

I gasped dramatically. "How dare you....!?"

She chuckled. "Maybe if you studied this hard for exams, you'd pass physics without needing divine intervention."

We pulled into the private docking platform.

Uniformed Helios staff lined the exit, silver badges gleaming.

"Welcome, students of Arclight High," a stern woman announced. "Remain in line and follow instructions. Helios Dynamics is not responsible for accidents caused by disobedience."

I leaned toward Naomi. "She sounds like a villain...."

Naomi elbowed me. "Shhh..."

The main facility loomed ahead - steel and glass spires woven together like a futuristic fortress. It hummed faintly, and I swore I could feel something beneath the ground.

I can't believe I'm here...

Now that I think about it... I did get chased by security a few months ago trying to sneak in because I heard my queen Storm was visiting....

I'm so hyped....!!

"Ellie," Naomi murmured. "You're spacing out."

"I'm not," I whispered. "I can feel it. Something big is about to happen... Maybe I'll even get to hold my hero's hand."

Naomi frowned. "Don't start your destiny speeches. This is a school trip. If you keep talking like that, you're going to jinx us."

I didn't respond.

I was already staring at the massive steel gates ahead.

They parted with a slow metallic hiss.

Revealing the world inside Helios Dynamics.

My breath hitched.

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