Ophelia: "Why do they know you so well that you're afraid of meeting them?”
Oliviera: "...”
Wayne: "...”
Elijah: "...”
Alyandrea: "...”
At this moment, these four specifically could only think of one thing:
.
.
“Who the hell is this monster, she can't possibly be a non-combatant... right...?”
The poor girl that received the sudden spotlight, couldn't help but shy away from their gazes, hiding behind Noel almost by instinct.
Needless to say, such a sight was comical. She was just too tall. Even when Noel put his arms up and tried jumping to help cover her, it only made the scene even sillier to watch.
Noel: "Ophelia, don't be scared, just introduce yourself!”
Rise: "Hmph! To think I was nervous at first around this tall and buff chick. She's all brawn and no brains! Being brainless means you're useless!”
Noel, hearing such harsh and mean words towards his first friend, impulsively shot a fierce, ready-to-kill glare toward the classmate. Nobody but Rise, having grown up in an environment where he had to fight or kill in order to survive the following day at school, noticed Noel's slight personality shift.
And he recognized such a defiant, dangerous gaze very well.
He made it so many times around his no-good father, a well – known villain in Villain Haven, and a clear, unjust asshole at home.
Their teacher noticed too, actually, and was prepared to put Noel down if the tiny fighter decided to try something. For now though, he merely watched. Trying to learn what he can, about each of them was also his duty as a teacher.
Noel: "Watch how you speak to her, Rise.”
Hearing Rise call her 'brainless' made Ophelia actually lose confidence. She began to call herself stupid over and over again, inwardly. It was the one thing she always thought about herself, and it stung that much more hearing somebody else point it out.
…
Then Noel spoke. It was a simple sentence, but the words weren't what mattered. It was his tone. That cocky, immature voice, the same that eerily chased away her enemies like a once fearsome nightmare, undeserving to be in his presence. She was hearing it again. And for some reason, it soothed her.
She suddenly stood up, which startled those who began calming down around her timidity. Holding her chest, Ophelia began practicing her breathing in order to stabilize it, before walking in front of everyone.
Ophelia: "Hello, everyone. My name's Ophelia. Age 14, and although I can't really control my powers well, I do still have them, I don't want to fight anymore, so for those two reasons...they were sealed. I just... Wanted to see heroes up close, and offer any meager help that I can give. Please be kind to me, and I hope that we can become friends.”
Once again silence, however this time she didn't even wait for a response before turning to face Rise. Her calm appearance as she gazed down at him scared the former Villain Haven resident just a bit, leading to him involuntarily taking a step back.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Ophelia: "Rise... right?”
Rise: "Y... Yeah? What is it?”
Ophelia was quiet for a bit, then she too only spoke a single sentence.
Ophelia: "Who needs brains, when you have the strength that I possess?”
Rise: "...Ha. Haha... Hahaha! To make me take a step back... girl, you are really interesting!”
Ophelia: "...Thank you Noel.”
Noel: "Mm. I really did nothing though, you were great standing up for yourself.”
Ophelia: "You gave me courage, just like that time earlier today.”
Noel: "Hehe, well I'm glad to help when I can! Still, have more confidence in yourself. Even if I'm not here, you can do amazing things on your own!”
Ophelia: "No, that's not true. I-”
Alyandrea: "Girl, did you just call yourself brainless? Don't let people get away with that shit! The moment you stop taking YOURSELF seriously is the moment everybody's gonna walk all over you. The kid's right, you don't NEED somebody to play bodyguard. Just gotta be your OWN bodyguard and stand up for YOURSELF sometimes. You listenin'?
Ophelia: "I... I am.”
Aly: "Good. On that note, how the fuck did you manage to get these huge biceps?! Gurl. WE'VE GOTTA work out together! I'm aiming to become a hero someday, and I could definitely use that strength of yours! Oh and tips! Can you help me out here?”
Ophelia: "...I... Noel..?”
Noel: "*Shrugs* I can't help. Just say how you feel.”
Ophelia: "Well...if, if it's just that... then yes. But if – if you're asking me to spar, then ….I'm sorry. But I can't. I don't want to fight.”
Aly: "Not sparring is fine. All I was asking was for you to spot for me and share those bicep secrets! If-”
Oliviera: "Okay! Stop... TAKING SO LONG! Who's next?
.
.
.
I'm Oliviera, by the way! I don't care for being a hero. I just wanna be close to them! I am in LOOOVE with heroes, so much that I am an official fan club member for all of the newest top ten Generation leaders! Oh...well, top 9. I refuse to become a follower of the woman who replaced the Pri-err...Elijah.
BUUUT the ones I DO support are:
10th place) Biceps King: Harvey!
9th place) Snake King...sorry, I mean Queen! Orochi Suzuki!
8th place) Music King: Nikita Abdulov!
7th place) Queen of the Feathered maidens: Valkyrie's Captain, Kari Aven! She leads the charge for the Seniors all hailing from the Odin Faction..!
6th Place) Cubic Queen...though she prefers Empress: Beke Meier!
5th place) Sonic-speed King: Momo Humphries! He's already decided on his superhero name... Sonic Light!
4th place) Mind Master: Tetra Terror! I don't know their gender, but they seem really cool in a... kind of creepy way!
3rd place) the Young Painter of Egypt: Luxor Al Pepitu! His group all hail from those who've been granted temporary divine powers by Anubis, Wepwawet, Anupet or Kebechet! They say whatever he paints becomes reality!
And 1st place! None other than the Elemental King himself... Rhys Abrams! The lazy King himself who was the only person, other than Elijah Abiko: Prince of Shades, to go undefeated against the other Generation Leaders! OH AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE HASTY QUEEN HER-”
Aly: "Okay! Okay...sheesh. Telling me that I take so long, when you can't stop praising others to fuckin' breathe.”
Oliviera: "Bitch I SAID-”
Mr. Abrams: "Ahem.”
Oliviera and Alyandrea: "...”
Elijah: “While I'm flattered that you'd fangirl over me, but really. Follow whoever you like. I don't mind if you support the Gravity Queen that replaced me.”
Oliviera: "No! She's a fraud! How can she replace you when she can't even claim to be undefeated?! She lost two- no, THREE TIMES!! Sure, two of those losses were to the Unranked and Undefeated Hasty Queen and Undefeated 1st King themselves... but still! That means she can't suddenly become #2! She even lost to some nobody named 'Nathan Ericson'!! SHE'S UNWORTHY!!!”
Elijah: "Haha~ Now, now... As kind of you to point that out... I'm no longer fit to be the Undefeated Prince of Shades, since I lost myse-”
Noel: "Ericson? You mean, the Ericson family?”
Although he spoke somewhat softly, Elijah still heard him. Stopping partway caused a series of heads to roll, facing Noel like a domino effect.
Oliviera: "What, what? The Ericson Family? What the heck is that supposed to be?”
Rise: "...How do you know...”
Wayne: "Hm? Noel, did you perhaps hear of those 'rumors' too? That's pretty impressive! I only heard about them myself from that fiery girl that was taken away moments ago~ hahaha!”
{...Am I missing something here? Aria and Ophelia are looking at me all confused, Ian did the same before taking his phone out...does nobody here know about the Ericsons? But father and Aeron both told me that they're as strong as the Malieranos! Aren't the 10 families supposed to be the ones maintaining the entire Spes Nova Continent itself?}
Mr. Abrams looked at the confused stare Noel gave his equally confused classmates, and sighed. This was going to be a toughie.
Mr. Abrams: "Haaah(Giving me more work to do), To those of you confused with Noel's question, listen up! There are 10 Families who financially support the stability of Spes Nova's economy throughout the areas on this continental piece of land. I believe they are in no exact order: The Malierano Family, The Richard Family, The Ericson Family, The Rowe Family, The Gonzalez Familia, The Mabras Family, The Korpela Family, The Kim Family, The Fall Family and The Wanderer Family, or Families. All 10 of them Financed the production and creation of Spes Nova, from its structure and economy down to every blade of grass grown to this very day. Those are the 10 families. That's it.”
Wayne: "That's NOT it! There are rumors!”
Oliviera: "Rumors? About the 10 families or whatever...?”
Wayne: "Yes! Supposedly, the 10 families are really ancient families that have changed their last names for many times now. The most popular rumors are that they all secretly try to kill each other by hiring villains, and that's why the hero Society haven't been able to put a definite stop to Villain Haven just yet. There's also the rumor that the families are incredibly powerful, have advanced technology and everybody with their last name has some type of superpower. Some of them supposedly have tried to save the world while others have managed to try and destroy it.”
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