That evening, after the ceremony, Valerie lay sprawled across her bed, her phone glowing in her hand. The university’s freshman ceremony was already trending, clips flooding social media. Comments ranged wildly—some praised the guy for his bravery, calling him “true hero,” while others dismissed him as “delusional” or “conspiracy theorist.” Valerie shook her head, scrolling through a stream of polarized reactions.

“Hey, Val,” came a voice from the other side of the room. Fiona, her roommate, poked her head around, hair still wet from the shower. “What’d you think of what that guy said?”

Valerie looked up, her expression thoughtful. “He’s not wrong, but it’s… complicated. Changing how people think—especially people who benefit from the way things are—is harder than it looks.” She shrugged, tossing her phone aside. “What about you?”

Fiona wandered over, sitting cross-legged on her bed. “Honestly, I think he nailed it. Do you think the heroes would step up and make some changes, for the better?”

Valerie raised an eyebrow. “Nope. Look, where do you think all this—” she gestured around the room, at the expensive building and their state-of-the-art dorm— “where do you think the funding for this place even comes from?”

“Sponsors?” Fiona guessed.

“Exactly. And those sponsors are making fortunes off the way things are.” Valerie’s tone grew more pointed. “The last thing they want is a bunch of heroes messing with their profit margins.”

Fiona gave her a sly look. “So… do you still wanna be a hero, Val?”

Valerie let out a snort. “Yeah, for the money. Nothing wrong with that, right?”

“Isn’t that a little… I dunno, Hypocritical?”

“Definitely,” Valerie said, rolling onto her back with a smirk. “But I need the money. For my dad.”

Fiona’s playful expression softened. “Fair enough, Val. Fair enough.”

---

The next morning, sunlight streamed into their room as Valerie and Fiona made their way through the packed halls, ready for their first official class: Heroic Philosophy and Ethics, taught by the infamous Professor Arizal Thomson.

The lecture hall buzzed with anticipation. Professor Thomson, a short, thin man with cold, assessing eyes, waited at the front, his stance rigid, arms crossed. As soon as everyone settled in, he cleared his throat.

“I trust you all remember the… dramatic display at last night’s ceremony?” His voice was smooth, controlled. “It seems we have a few among us who believe that heroes should overstep their boundaries. That kind of thinking is dangerous, and will only lead to destabilization and chaos.”

A few students nodded along, but Valerie just rolled her eyes.

Professor Thomson continued, “A true hero understands the importance of boundaries. We’re here to maintain peace, not disrupt it. That is our ethical duty.”

A student in the back raised his hand. “Professor, should heroes help the government to keep Villains in prisons? I think it is more ethical to do so, to minimize the loss of lives, peace would still be maintained. Because, till today, Villains escape all the time, and then just like that, they’re back on the streets doing what they always do, more people die.”

Professor Thomson gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “We should not interfere with government duties, as I mentioned earlier, we have boundaries. The government has measures in place. Heroes should trust them and focus on their immediate duties.”

Valerie couldn’t hold back. “So… just trust them? And do nothing while villains escape over and over? How many people have to die to make you understand that it didn’t work that way? Just like the guy said yesterday, we need to change the system itself for your ideals to work…People keep getting hurt, and villains run free. Take the Alvilla Incident, for example.”

The room went quiet, students’ eyes shifting between her and the professor.

Valerie’s voice grew louder, sharper. “The villain responsible for that massacre had escaped from prison. If the system actually worked, none of those people would’ve died, because that villain would have still been in prison. But in reality the system is a failure. The guy escaped and killed almost the entire town… Look, if you’re not willing to fix a broken system, then stop pretending it’s enough to slap villains on the wrist. Sometimes, the only way to stop the truly irredeemable ones is to end them. Period.”

A murmur swept through the room, a mix of sympathy and unease. Professor Thomson, however, only looked mildly irritated, as if Valerie had interrupted his train of thought.

“You seem passionate about the topic Miss Nordin. Did you lose someone in that incident?”

“Yes, I am from Alvilla. I witnessed the incident first hand”

He clasped his hands behind his back, his voice dismissive. “Miss Nordin, death is an unfortunate but inevitable part of life. Heroes aren’t gods, and your grief doesn’t change the fact that no hero should act as an executioner. You must learn to let go of these… attachments. Accept them. You’re not here to avenge personal losses.”

“Wow, is he serious?” She muttered

Professor Thomson glanced at his watch, already moving on. “Now, to continue, our responsibility is to maintain peace—nothing more. Any deviation only feeds into chaos.”

Memories of Alvilla flooded her mind: the smoke, the screams, the wreckage—and this man—this self-righteous, condescending man—was saying that those lives were mere collateral damage, attachments.

Valerie's lips curled into a mischievous smile as a glint of rebellion sparkled in her eyes. She leaned forward, voice laced with mock innocence. “Professor, do you honestly believe the world’s at peace? Because to me," she paused, letting the tension hang in the air, "it seems like you’re just confusing peace with…”

“That’s enough, Miss Nordin!” Professor Thomson’s voice cracked like a whip, echoing through the lecture hall.

Valerie held up her hands, feigning surrender with a hint of sarcasm. “Alright, alright. No need to lose it, Professor. Just trying to have an intellectual conversation.”

“Stop it!” he snapped, his face going red.

She raised an eyebrow, unable to resist. “As you wish, Professor.” Then, under her breath, she muttered, “Didn’t think heroes were supposed to be so... sensitive.”

Thomson’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve got some nerve, little girl.”

Valerie smirked. “I’m 6 ‘1, Professor. Not exactly little. Unlike….you know.”

A ripple of stifled laughter swept through the room. The professor took a deep breath, his mouth a thin, hard line as he tried to regain his composure. The class was silent, a mixture of nerves and thrill hanging in the air.

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—

When the lesson finally ended, Valerie grabbed her things, feeling the heat of the professor’s glare as she walked out. Fiona was waiting in the hallway, eyes wide.

“Val, that was insane! I can’t believe he didn’t kick you out!”

Valerie grinned, shrugging it off. “He can’t kick me out. Don’t worry.”

“Oh, really? And why’s that?” Fiona shot her a skeptical look. “Are you, like, the president’s daughter or something?”

Valerie chuckled. “Nope. But… you’ll find out soon enough.”

“Soon enough? What’s that supposed to mean?” Fiona asked, frowning.

Valerie just smirked. “Two days from now.”

Fiona’s eyes widened in realization. “You mean… The 2124 Future Stars Gala?”

“That’s the one,” Valerie replied. “Can’t wait to see the ‘future of heroism’ prance around for ticket sales. They’re not fooling anyone—it’s just a moneymaker, a flashy show, a gimmick.”

“But it’s tradition! It’s been going on for the last 145 years, plus they are not tickets, they’re donations. And all the big names have been through it.” Fiona nudged her playfully. “Aren’t you excited to show everyone what you’re made of?”

Valerie shrugged. “Excited? Eh. I don’t have anything to prove to these people. They want a spectacle? Fine, but I’m not doing backflips just to fit their mold.”

Fiona laughed, a little too loudly, then checked her watch. “Well, at least we’re free now—no more classes till after the showcase. Let’s do something fun while we can.”

“Fun? What’s on your mind?” Valerie asked, amused.

“Shopping?” Fiona suggested, her eyes lighting up.

Valerie gave her a half-smile. “I’m broke. You’d be shopping, and I’d be… watching you shop.”

“Who said you’d pay? It’s on me,” Fiona grinned. “Besides, consider it my treat. New friends and all that.”

Valerie raised an eyebrow. “Oh wow, we’re already at that stage, huh? I mean, I barely know you. This is moving pretty fast.” She grinned.

“Then let’s make it official,” Fiona shot back, playful yet sincere. “The start of a real friendship.”

“Fine,” Valerie agreed, smirking. “But just know—I’m not a good influence.”

—

While Valerie and Fiona were busy trying on jackets, dresses, trendy fashion and laughing over the most ridiculous accessories they could find, a tense meeting was unfolding back at Hero University, deep within the Dean's office.

Dean Thorne sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his fingers steepled as he scanned the faces of the twelve professors gathered. Among them sat Professor Thomson, still fuming from his earlier encounter with Valerie.

Dean Thorne cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Thank you all for coming. I’m sure by now you've seen the attention one of our students, Mr. Kian Drexler, has stirred up following last night’s ceremony."

Professor Radcliffe, a stout man with a gruff voice, leaned forward. "Stirred up? Dean Thorne, the kid practically ignited a media storm. Every platform's buzzing with clips of his... speech."

Professor Lang, a younger member of the faculty with a calm demeanor, shrugged. “It's not exactly unprecedented. We’ve had plenty of students come in with wild ideas. They cool down once they’re taught what a hero actually is.”

“But Drexler’s rhetoric has gone viral,” Dean Thorne said, his voice edged with concern. “It’s reaching beyond our campus. This isn’t something we can afford to ignore.”

Professor Thomson crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "And it’s not just Kian Drexler we should be watching. Valerie Nordin—she’s shaping up to be just as problematic."

Professor Kohn, a tall woman with glowing blue eyes, raised an eyebrow. “Valerie Nordin? Are we seriously talking about the girl who made you lose your temper in Ethics class, Thomson?”

Thomson’s face reddened. “She didn’t make me lose my temper, Kohn. She has this… rebellious streak. Disrespectful. And her views are suspiciously aligned with Drexler’s. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were in cahoots.”

Professor Halstein, who had attended the ceremony, chuckled. “Oh, please, Thomson. It sounds more like she just got under your skin. Students ask questions. That’s normal. Some are a little more… unorthodox than others, but it’s our job to handle it.”

Dean Thorne raised a hand to silence the murmurs. “There’s more to this than meets the eye. The Hero Association has reason to believe that our campus has been infiltrated.”

The room fell silent, every eye on Thorne.

“Infiltrated?” Professor Radcliffe asked, frowning. “By who?”

“We’re not certain who they are,” Thorne admitted, his voice low. “But we have intel suggesting that a member of the group Futuroganti—an underground organization with still-unknown motivations—has enrolled as a student.”

The room erupted into hushed conversations, tension rising.

Professor Lang shook his head, incredulous. “Futuroganti… I’ve heard of them. Rumors about an organization pushing for radical societal change. But why here? What would they want with our students?”

Dean Thorne leaned forward. “That’s exactly what we need to find out. But this is no coincidence. The Hero Association believes they may be attempting to recruit some of our more… impressionable new students.”

Professor Kohn frowned. “And you think they’re targeting Drexler and… Nordin?”

“Both of them are among our top ten most powerful first-years,” Thorne replied, his voice tense. “They’ve both faced difficult pasts, and both seem to have complicated relationships with authority and the hero community. This makes them prime targets for an organization like Futuroganti.”

Professor Thomson scoffed. “And if you ask me, Valerie’s practically one foot in already. Did you hear her? Talking about how heroes should kill villains rather than ‘keep them in the prison.’ This girl has issues.”

Professor Lang shot him a sharp look. “That’s a bit extreme, Thomson. Valerie’s just a young woman who lost her mother in that incident. She’s angry. That doesn’t make her a threat.”

“Maybe,” Dean Thorne interjected. “But this is no time for complacency. If these students are susceptible to Futuroganti’s influence, we need to be vigilant. Losing them would be a blow to our future class of heroes—especially two of our most promising recruits.”

The room went quiet, each professor processing the gravity of the situation.

Professor Kohn finally spoke up. “So, what’s our plan, Dean? We can’t very well put them under constant surveillance without raising suspicion.”

Dean Thorne nodded, thoughtful. “I want you all to keep a close eye on them—Drexler, Nordin, and any other student who seems… off. Observe their interactions, their affiliations, any sudden changes in behavior.”

Professor Halstein looked uneasy. “And what happens if we confirm they’re… involved?”

Thorne’s expression hardened. “Then we report it to the Hero Association immediately. But until then, we tread carefully. The last thing we want is to drive them away by pushing too hard. We cannot afford to lose students with their potential, and neither can the Association.”

Professor Thomson, still smoldering, gave a curt nod. “I’ll keep a close watch on Nordin in Ethics.”

Professor Radcliffe snorted. “Just don’t let her get the better of you this time, Thomson.”

Laughter rippled across the room, easing some of the tension, though the unease lingered beneath the surface.

Dean Thorne’s eyes hardened as he surveyed his faculty. “Let’s keep this under wraps. For now, this stays between us and the Association. If Futuroganti is here, our students’ futures—and the stability of this university—are at stake.”

With that, the meeting ended, and the professors filed out, a sense of dread settling over them. As Thorne watched them leave, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far darker than any of them were prepared for.

—

Valerie spun in front of the mirror, showing off a flowy, floral dress that somehow looked equal parts edgy and sweet on her. She turned to Fiona with a grin. "How do I look? Like a dangerous flower?"

Fiona laughed, shaking her head. "Maybe if that flower had laser vision. But yes, dangerous and beautiful."

They continued rifling through racks, picking up everything from vintage jackets to trendy boots, trying on random accessories and quirky hats, and laughing as they swapped styles. Valerie even tried on a feathered cape that looked ridiculous but had them both in stitches.

"Maybe I’ll save this for my superhero debut,” Valerie quipped, draping the cape over her shoulder and striking a regal pose.

Fiona rolled her eyes, chuckling. “More like a villain's debut, You’d send everyone fleeing with that.”

When they finally finished picking out their finds, they made their way to the cashier. Fiona pulled out her wallet, flashing an array of golden debit and credit cards.

Valerie's eyebrows shot up. "Oh wow, are you, like, a trust fund baby or something? Because if so… could your parents adopt me?"

Fiona grinned, flipping her hair in an exaggerated show of wealth. “Why, yes, I am a proud trust fund baby. I’ll put in a good word with my father. Sisters on a shopping spree?”

They both laughed, leaning into the joke until a figure by the entrance caught their attention.

“Whoa,” Fiona whispered, nudging Valerie. “Is that him?”

Valerie’s gaze followed hers. Standing at the doorway was a tall man, just a hair taller than her. His silver hair caught the store lights, and his eyes, a striking red, surveyed the room with a sharp intensity. His entire look screamed effortless style.

Valerie smirked. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Red Eyes, Silver Hair. Guess I’m not as unique as I thought.”

“Well, he definitely stole your look,” Fiona teased, nudging her playfully. “Think he’s as intense as he looks?”

“Only one way to find out,” Valerie said with a confident smile, taking a step toward him.

Just as she approached, a sudden metallic clink echoed across the store. Valerie’s head whipped around, eyes widening in horror as she spotted a small, round object rolling across the floor—a grenade.

“Fi, get down!” Valerie yelled, sprinting back towards her friend, her heart racing as she prepared to shield her from the blast.