《Birth of an AntiHero》Chapter 25 - The Prince of Shades, and his fall from grace.
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He was known once, as one of the three leaders of the next generation.
With soft, snowy-white hair and looks that charmed even adults, he could be said to attract attention wherever he went.
His kind and considerate nature towards others, from training difficulties to simple gardening issues, made his popularity skyrocket. The fact that he was knowledgeable enough to give proper advice on those topics made his already increasing popularity rise tenfold. These two attributes alone firmly cemented his status as a Generation 'leader'.
However that wasn't all. Thanks to his two abilities: one known as “Black & White” that is said to not be allowed to exist in this world, and the other: “Almighty self-restoration” which could heal major wounds or bring him back from the verge of death at any given time, he had never met anyone who could prove his match.
That is, until the beginning of his second middle school semester when a long-haired youth around his age appeared and not only challenged him in front of the entire middle school student body, but thoroughly defeated him in battle. Her sharp eyes contrasted his innocent ones, and, as if she'd studied his every calculated move: crushed his advanced tactics mercilessly.
Her final words before disappearing from sight?
'Once again, too weak. I actually had my hopes up this time because you were being called a leader of the next generation, but this is all you're capable of?' Well, those were the last things she said to him before the teachers caught her trying to walk away after severely injuring their student and had the police call her parents.
Even in Herotopia, the strong have to abide by the rules, after all. Infighting should be agreed upon by both parties beforehand in a 'Colosseum' where they can fight for sport or fun. Moreover, barging into different schools and challenging those you consider powerful, then attacking them before they can agree, is seen as deplorable. An act befitting one who is degenerating towards the path of villainy.
After losing, he felt his entire world shatter.
Not just because she beat him when he was hailed as unbeatable.
Not just because he was laughed at or ridiculed by the very same people that praised him moments prior.
Not only due to the fact that his every move was calculated and repelled or broken, like his patterns for attacking or defending were dissected and analyzed piece by piece.
And Certainly not due to that semblance of sympathy he'd gotten from those die hard fans who chose to stick by him even during the worst of his days – stating such claims that everyone has a fall once in a while or that nobody in this world is perfect.
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Yet, the very reason for this perfect child's 'inner world' collapsing, is because his powers suddenly refused to work.
They would either spiral completely out of control, or refuse to work at all.
Black, which absorbs all known light, before radiating a heated energy source.
White, that reflects anything incorporating light into its form.
With such an overpowered ability going out of control, anyone near him was exposed to danger.
Finally: he decided to seal his powers, and help humanity some other way. He studied medical safety with the remaining months left in his final middle school year and then, after reaching the point of graduation: applied for Hero High.
There were many who already expected this outcome. It was only natural for one of the most gifted talents in the hero community to attend one of the best Superhero-raising learning facilities on the planet.
What nobody knew though, was that Mr. Perfect, or better known by his actual name: Elijah Abiko, hadn't applied for a scholarship. He didn't get sponsored by an existing hero or gain entrance through the test for discovering gifted geniuses in society.
He wasn't attending as an ace student of the 'Future Hero' program that others yearned for – nor was he going as a young leader of the next generation.
He was, simply, entering as is.
Without harboring full control over his powers.
With no attention being paid to him, since he managed to hide his new address from the typical major paparazzi companies.
With little preparation and zero support from a powerful family, like the other 'Generation Leaders' his age.
No...he wasn't going through normal means and entering the school's main campus or even applying for a 'sidekick' test, for those with minor powers that can assist or even magnify others' powers, but would struggle when alone.
The former School prince and 'Ex-Generation Leader, Elijah C. Abiko, has applied through their special course, as a non-combatant!
His plans? To further his studies in the medical field and what to look out for. Because he can no longer control his powers safely, there is absolutely no chance of him ever applying for a spot in the regular courses for the talented or the advanced courses for the gifted.
If he wanted to, he could get in. quite easily in fact. More than half of the student body can't control their powers well, with some being outright unable to summon forth their abilities, having experienced an awakening only once or twice.
Heck, with the wealth of knowledge alone that he received from excessive studying and trying to help anyone that asked for it, he would even qualify for the sidekick courses available in the High school's second building without needing to wait for the Hero Society's approval.
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Of course, Elijah would be having none of it.
For one: it felt incredibly humiliating. He might have been a kind leader, but he also had a leader's pride. To have to face off against those who hated him or were jealous of him before, in the state that he's in now – was bound to be far too much of a humiliation to bear! After all, he is still only a kid.
Second: He no longer holds the desire to continue searching for a way to regain his powers. In his eyes, trying to struggle in vain to maintain his status as an average hero while others laugh and scorn him for falling from grace...Elijah doesn't have the will to go through something like that.
Third: He truly wishes to explore his options as a non-combatant.
His mother consoled him once, back when he first cried his heart out after the disappearance of his two abilities.
She said the following:
Powers aren't everything, baby. What makes the Elijah that I know a wonderful leader is that kind and always responsible heart – which makes others want to rely on you, the ever-knowing brain that hungers for more articles and books or whatever else you can get your hands on, and your courageous, defiant soul that inspires others who watch you shine.
Such traits, I think, are befitting of a genuine hero.'
Thus, Elijah has come to the 3rd best high school for raising Heroes in Herotopia: Hero High, in order to find a brand new path to illuminate his path. He never once thought about restarting his path of a hero, only how he can still help others to the best of his current capability.
.
.
.
...
The school's plans, regarding his present state? Naturally...
To figure out what is causing his powers to go out of control, and find a way to restore them!
After all, his status as a future Generation Leader was made by the Hero Society for anyone they scouted out at a young age. There's absolutely no way the Society would allow such a promising candidate to whither away just like that! Especially not in one of the schools that they run!
Their 3rd school has 3 buildings: First is the building reserved for any student that qualifies for the school's Hero and advanced Hero Courses.
The bottom half of the building and its first 3 floors are reserved for kids that got in the normal way: Applying for a spot, then taking a written and physical test to identify and ensure they actually have the powers they claim to possess.
Those who can't bring forth their powers and have no credible evidence to back up such claims must agree to allow their memories of the incident to be scanned by a hero capable of memory-related jobs.
Such students are taught by various superheroes and even receive hands-on guidance in order to bring out their powers when they're unable to, or if they can already bring it out, then to help them maximize their capabilities to the fullest.
The whole upper half of the first building has everything designed for one on one mentoring. Advanced courses are granted to special children, and as such, they are treated with the greatest of privileges that not even money can buy. One of the top 100 Heroes personally tutors each one of them. They're even allowed to accompany their mentor for hands-on experience: normally not permitted by Herotopia law without being a Hero certified by the Hero agency.
The second building is reserved for the 'Sidekicks'. It houses the most students, taking a total of 3,500 slots of the 5,000 student slots available. There, they attempt to strengthen what minor powers they have. If successful then they can attain for themselves an 'advancement ticket' to become a hero student.
For those that have no abilities to depend on whatsoever, they are judged and categorized into combat support, or intellect support. They receive combat lessons or intel-gathering and knowledge building lessons depending on their strengths and overall preference. These students are special. They can, along with the promotion ability, also specialize in designing costumes or suits of armor for the various heroes that depend on tech, rather than supernatural ability. If they can prove their talent in technological fields, they can request a transfer to the top superhero high school in the Continent, Justice Heights Academy, which has a vaster array of hero divisions for different kinds of heroes – including ones that focus more on martial arts development instead of technology or power strengthening.
As for the third building...Well, it's a work in progress that hopes to raise students who can support during situations that aren't related to abnormal battles, like medical support, clean-up crew, evacuation crew etc.
However this is all just a plan in action...since the third building's development only recently completed its development.
Yes, hopefully things will go smoothly...
Hopefully...
---
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