“Bye, Dad,” Valerie smiled, trying to keep her voice steady. “You don’t need to worry so much, okay? I’ll be fine! I’m twenty years old now, remember? I promise I’ll call you often.”

Her father’s face softened for a brief moment before his brows furrowed again. “How can I not be worried, Val? You’re all I have left.” His voice cracked, and he looked down at her with a deep sadness that tugged at her heart. “Pumpkin, I love you more than anything in the universe. You’re my world.”

Valerie blinked back the sting of tears, forcing a smile as she leaned in to hug him. “I know, Dad. I love you, too. But I’ll be okay, I swear.” Her voice dropped to a soft plea, “Promise me you’ll take care of your health? Rest once in a while… for me, okay?”

He hugged her tightly, burying his face in her hair for a moment longer than usual. “I promise, my little princess. But are you sure?” His voice wavered as he pulled back to look at her. “Is it too late to change to a safer college? Being a superhero is dangerous… what if—”

Valerie chuckled, shaking her head. “Dad, we’ve been through this. I’ll be fine. You know my powers, and I’m only going to get stronger here.” She gently touched his arm, her eyes filled with determination. “Once I’m a licensed superhero, you won’t have to work yourself to the bone anymore. I’ll take care of you.”

Her father sighed, his shoulders sagging in defeat, but there was a glimmer of pride in his eyes. “Oh, pumpkin… I can only trust you now. But know I’ll always worry about you.”

“I know,” Valerie whispered, stepping closer for one last hug. She held on tightly, savoring the warmth and comfort of the man who had been her rock for as long as she could remember. “But I’m ready for this, Dad. I promise.”

They stood there , wrapped in each other’s arms, until Valerie finally pulled away, her heart heavy but full of resolve. She gave him one last look before turning toward the dormitory, her steps hesitant at first, but growing stronger with each stride.

As her father watched her walk away, he whispered softly to himself, “Be safe, my little girl.” Then, with a deep breath, he turned and walked back toward the parking lot, leaving his daughter to her new world.

—

The dormitory lobby was grander than anything Valerie had ever seen. Its sleek, futuristic design made it feel more like the lobby of a five-star hotel than a college residence. Glass walls stretched upward, reflecting the dazzling lights of the interior, and the furniture looked straight out of a luxury catalog. Valerie’s eyes wandered from the polished floors to the high ceilings, her heart swelling with awe—and a touch of guilt. 

“How much did dad pay for me to be here?” she thought, biting her lip. 

She knew her enrollment here wasn’t cheap, but this… this was beyond anything she could have imagined.

"I promise I won't waste this chance, Dad. I’ll get my license, and you won’t have to work another day.”

She made her way to the receptionist’s desk, her shoes tapping softly on the marble floor.

“Hi, I’m Valerie Nordin,” she said with a friendly smile, doing her best to project confidence despite the flutter of nerves. “I’m a new student here, checking in for my dorm room?”

The receptionist, a young woman with glasses, looked up and smiled warmly. “Miss Nordin, of course! Just sign here,” she said, sliding a sleek tablet toward her.

Valerie quickly scribbled her signature before receiving a slim, futuristic-looking keycard. 

“Your room’s on the fifth floor,” the receptionist said, handing her the keycard. “Good luck, Miss Nordin!”

“Thanks!” Valerie smiled back before heading toward the elevator, her heart racing with excitement.

—

Valerie opened the door to her new dorm room, only to find herself face-to-face with—no one? but then a voice called out from the seemingly empty space.

“Hey! I’m your roommate. Nice to meet you!” came a cheerful voice. 

Valerie glanced around, her eyes narrowing. There was no one in sight, but the voice was definitely there. Then it clicked. She smirked slightly. “You know, I can see you.” looking straight at the source of the voice.

A gasp filled the air as a figure shimmered into view. Her roommate, a girl with short, dark hair and a mischievous grin, appeared out of thin air. “Wait, what? How?”

“Infrared vision,” Valerie replied, still amused. “Sorry if I interrupted your disappearing act. Clearly, you didn’t want to be seen.”

The girl burst into laughter. “No, no, it’s fine! I was trying to prank my new roommate, but I guess you’ve got me beat. My name’s Fiona, by the way.” She extended her hand, still grinning.

“Valerie,” she responded, shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

As Fiona flopped onto one of the beds, Valerie began unpacking her suitcase, placing her belongings neatly into the closet and drawers.

“So, what’s your story? Where are you from?” Fiona asked, propping herself up on one elbow, clearly interested.

Valerie hesitated for a moment. “I’m from a small town called Alvilla. Nothing fancy. And I’m here, just like everyone else, to become a superhero. To protect people.” She kept her voice casual, but there was a quiet determination behind her words.

Fiona raised an eyebrow. “Country girl, huh? Big city must be a shock for you.”

Valerie shrugged, smiling slightly. “Yeah, it’s a bit overwhelming, but I’ll manage. What about you?”

“I’m a city girl, born and raised here in Astoria, the crown jewel of Vorenthea,” Fiona said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, “and I am here to become its protector” Then her eyes widened suddenly. “Wait. Alvilla… like the Alvilla incident? Ten years ago?” She leaned forward, eyes filled with curiosity and something else—sympathy.

Valerie tensed at the mention of it, her hands pausing over her clothes. She hadn’t expected anyone to connect her to that. Fiona took her silence as confirmation and gasped.

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“Is that why you want to be a superhero? To protect people because of what happened there?” Fiona’s voice softened as she got off the bed and crossed the room, wrapping her arms around Valerie in a tight, unexpected hug.

Valerie stood frozen for a second, completely caught off guard. “O-okay… yeah, sure,” she mumbled, awkwardly patting Fiona’s back.

Fiona pulled back, her eyes wide and shining. “That’s amazing. I mean, not what happened but… your motivation. You’re going to be an awesome hero, Valerie. I can feel it.”

Valerie blinked, her heart warming at Fiona’s unexpected kindness. “Thanks.” She gave a small smile before returning to her unpacking.

—

Valerie finished unpacking, folding her last set of clothes into the closet. She sighed in relief before flopping onto her bed, her phone in hand. She opened the university app and began scrolling through the schedule for the day.

“Hey,” Fiona’s voice cut through the silence. She stood by the door, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed. “Wanna go to the main building together?”

Valerie glanced up from her phone and nodded. “Yeah, sure. We just need to bring the registration documents, right?”

Fiona pulled out her phone, double-checking the email they received. “Yup, looks like that’s all we need for now.”

“Alright then, let’s go,” Valerie said, grabbing her papers from the desk and tucking them into her backpack. She followed Fiona out of the room.

—

They joined the stream of other freshmen filing out of the dormitory and onto the campus grounds. The sheer scale of Astoria Heroes University took Valerie’s breath away. Towering buildings of glass and metal lined the walkways, their surfaces glinting under the sun. Technology Valerie had only seen on TV was everywhere—hovering drones, automated benches that adjusted to the person sitting on them, holographic signposts that projected maps and announcements.

“Wow,” Valerie murmured, eyes wide as she took in the sights. “I feel like I just stepped into a different world.”

Fiona laughed, nudging her. “Welcome to the future, country girl. You’ll get used to it. Maybe.”

As they approached the main building, an architectural masterpiece of glass and steel, they saw dozens of new students entering through the grand doors. Inside, the admission office buzzed with activity, but the registration process was surprisingly quick and efficient. Valerie and Fiona received their student cards, sleek devices that doubled as ID, payment cards, and access passes to various parts of the campus.

An administrator, a woman with silver hair and a stern expression, handed them their cards. “Now that you’ve registered, head to the gymnasium. The welcome ceremony will begin in an hour. Don’t be late.”

“Got it,” Valerie nodded, pocketing her card.

—

The gymnasium was massive, more like an arena built to accommodate thousands of students. Valerie and Fiona found seats in the middle, among the throng of excited newcomers. The air buzzed with energy as everyone settled into their chairs, chatting eagerly about what was to come. On the stage, six professors were seated in front of a large banner that read: ‘Welcome to Astoria Heroes University’. Each professor had a commanding presence, and it was clear they were once legendary heroes in their own right.

“Think they’ll have sparring demos?” Fiona whispered, eyes scanning the stage.

Valerie chuckled. “I think it’s a little early for that… but who knows? It’s a superhero college.”

“Do you know who they are?” Fiona whispered, nodding toward the stage.

Valerie squinted at the professors, recognizing a couple from news stories and documentaries. “That’s Professor Halstein,” she said, pointing to a tall man with silver hair. “He was one of the most famous tacticians in the hero world. Saved countless lives by predicting enemy movements. Now he’s the Head of Strategy and Combat Training.”

“And next to him… that’s Professor Zaira Kohn, right?” Fiona added, spotting the woman with glowing blue eyes. “She’s a master of telekinesis and used to be the leader of the Hero Coalition. She’s the Dean of Student Affairs now.”

The conversation was cut short, the room fell silent as Dean Thorne stepped up to the podium.

“Welcome, new students, to Astoria Heroes University,” he began, pausing as a wave of cheers rippled through the crowd. “You stand today at the beginning of a journey that will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine. But know this—you were chosen because you have the potential to become heroes, the guardians of our world.”

The energy in the room was electric, every student hanging onto the Dean’s every word.

“But being a hero is not just about power,” the Dean continued, his gaze hardening. “It’s about responsibility. About sacrifice. The world will look to you not only for protection but for leadership. However, you will not be above the law. In fact, you must hold yourselves to an even higher standard.”

He paused, letting the words sink in.

“There is one principle we hold sacred here, one that has guided our institution since its founding.” The Dean’s voice grew serious, and Valerie could feel the room tense. “We protect life not end it. No matter the threat, no matter the temptation, superheroes must not cross that line. Our duty is to protect life, even that of our enemies. The moment we take a life, we become the very thing we’re fighting against.”

The Dean’s voice softened, but there was a steel edge to his tone. “I know this rule will be hard for some of you. You’ll face villains who will push you to your limits, who will make you question this very code. But we are not just enforcers. We are protectors.”

He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the sea of faces. “In your time here, you will learn more than how to control your abilities. You will learn what it means to be a hero, to stand in the face of darkness that blinds even the brightest of stars, to conquer evil, to rid the world of injustice and sufferings.”

The crowd was silent, the weight of his words heavy in the air.

“I wish you all the best of luck in your training. Remember, heroes are not born—they are forged in the fires of their trials. Welcome to Astoria Heroes University.”

The applause thundered around her, but Valerie sat still, lost in thought. She couldn’t bring herself to clap, not for a speech that preached “pretentious Ideals”. She witnessed first hand how naive and dangerous these ideals were. 

Suddenly, a voice broke through the applause, silencing the room. A young man, a freshman, had risen to his feet near the center of the gym, his voice steady but loud enough to carry.

"Excuse me, Dean!" he called out, defiance sparking in his eyes. “Why don’t the heroes do more than just stand guard over a broken system? Why don’t they fix things at the root?”

The murmurs began to ripple through the crowd as the Dean turned his gaze upon the student, his expression unreadable. But the freshman continued, undeterred.

“For your ideals to work, you need to make sure the justice system works. But it doesn’t. You know it, we all know it” he said. 

“Right now, if ten villains are caught, three will escape the so-called ‘maximum security’ prisons, and two will walk free, never convicted—moneytalks. They just slip through the cracks—cracks that shouldn’t exist. The system is broken—corrupt, incompetent. Heroes should be fixing that, not just standing by as ‘protectors’, to ‘patch’ things up.” His voice trembled with passion, his fists clenched at his sides. 

“Poverty, hunger, homelessness, injustice… They’re what breed supervillains in the first place. Imagine if we could wipe those problems out. With heroes leading, with your powers, influence, and technology, you could actually make this country, no—the world a better place.”

A tense silence filled the gym. Valerie’s heart pounded; every word he spoke echoed the doubts she’d carried silently for years. “He’s right,” she thought, feeling a fierce rush of validation. “Heroes don’t prevent suffering—they just mop up after it.”

The freshman looked around, his voice swelling with conviction. “But no, heroes here are content to be reactionary, to defend a status quo that serves no one but the rich and powerful. You talk about justice, Dean, but how can you bring justice while you rely on a justice system that is rotten to the core.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd, and Valerie could feel the shifting energy, a mix of awe and tension. The Dean’s face remained stoic, though something cold and steely settled in his gaze.

“That’s enough,” came a voice from behind the freshman. Two security officers moved swiftly down the aisle, taking him by the arms.

“What, are you going to silence me just for speaking the truth?” the student spat, struggling in their grip. “Heroes are supposed to be symbols of hope, but you’re just symbols of stagnation, ignorance. The world needs change—heroes have the power to make it happen, but you refuse to act! Like a bunch of cowards!”

The officers pulled him toward the exit as he shouted, his voice growing fainter but still defiant. “Stop defending the status quo! Heroes should be more than that!”

Valerie watched, transfixed, as he disappeared beyond the doors, the silence in the gym heavy and uncomfortable.