Novels2Search
I am The Supervillain.
Chapter 5 - Gala

Chapter 5 - Gala

Morning’s light spilled across campus, bringing with it an excited buzz in the air. Today was the big day—the 2124 Future Stars Gala. Inside their dorm, Fiona was darting around like a whirlwind, tossing things into her bag, while Valerie moved at her usual, unhurried pace.

“Val, come on!” Fiona begged, pulling her super suit into place under her clothes. “We have to be there in thirty minutes, and you’re still doing makeup?”

Valerie calmly brushed on her eyeliner, adding a smudge of dark eyeshadow. “Relax, we have time. It’s just eyeliner and lipstick—basic stuff.”

Fiona exhaled, barely suppressing her eye roll. “Well, I’m done waiting!” She strode over, grabbing the makeup brush from Valerie’s hand. “Sit still. If you’re going to go at a snail’s pace, then let me just do it.”

Before Valerie could protest, Fiona grabbed her makeup brush and started dabbing, blending, and applying in a flurry. She even picked up the wrong lipstick shade in the chaos—a bright pink instead of Valerie’s usual nude color. When Fiona finally stepped back, satisfied, Valerie looked into the mirror and gasped.

“Whoa. Who is this?” she marveled, turning her face from side to side. The bold pink lip actually looked... pretty amazing. “I look like I could be on the cover of a magazine or something.”

“You’re welcome. Now come on, Miss Cover Girl. We’re late!”, Fiona said, grabbing Valerie’s arm. “Hurry up!”

Valerie stood still, “Fi, just a minute, I look so—”

With a dramatic sigh, Fiona tugged harder, making zero progress in moving Valerie an inch. “Come on, don’t make me look like a crazy person!”

Laughing, Valerie finally let Fiona “drag” her down the hall and out the door. “Alright, alright. Let’s go.”

They finally made it outside, only to find a massive crowd streaming toward the arena.

“This is nuts. Everyone’s out here just to watch a bunch of students parade around in suits,” Valerie muttered, scanning the sea of people.

Fiona nudged her. “Come on, it’s a little exciting, isn’t it? Just imagine, this is our first real debut!”

Valerie shrugged. “If by ‘debut,’ you mean the city’s trending ‘Pervert Dragon’ and ‘Bikini Squad,’ then sure, I’m thrilled,” she joked, rolling her eyes.

Fiona snickered, still dragging her forward. “Well, I think they’re about to see a whole new side of you, miss cover girl.”

They reached the entrance, where a group of event staff spotted them. “Miss Nordin, Miss Allen!” one called, gesturing urgently. “Right this way, ladies, hurry now. Locker rooms are down the hall—quick, quick!”

“Is the arena always this chaotic?” Valerie asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s the biggest event of the year! You’re basically a celebrity right now.” Fiona smirked as they rushed through the crowd.

A second staffer jogged alongside them. “Alright, just a quick touch-up in the locker room, and then you’ll be briefed on your intro.”

They finally made it to the locker room, where Fiona adjusted her suit in the mirror. “This is it, Val. Our first big debut. Nerves? Butterflies?”

Valerie gave her a half-smile, glancing at the reflection of her pink-lipped self. “Maybe a few. But mostly, I just hope they don’t start calling me ‘Pervert Dragon’ again.”

Fiona laughed. “Better get used to the fame, Pink Dragon.”

Valerie groaned, but couldn’t help laughing as well. “That’s even worse, Fi—if anyone even whispers ‘Pink Dragon,’ I’m blaming you.”

Just as Valerie and Fiona were settling into the locker room, the door swung open. A tall woman with a commanding presence strode in, her eyes sharp and assessing as they landed on them. Without missing a beat, she gestured for them to follow.

“Miss Allen, Miss Nordin, this way,” she said, her tone all business.

Valerie exchanged a quick look with Fiona, who shrugged, and they followed her into a separate room. Kian was already waiting there, leaning casually against the wall.

The woman cleared her throat, capturing their attention. “I’m Bethany Grace, Director of the Arena. We can’t have accusations of favoritism due to your custom suits,” she said, producing a new set of gear. “Please change into these. It's standard issue for the event.”

“Understood, ma'am,” Kian responded, already reaching for his suit. Then he turned to Valerie and gave her an appreciative smile. “Miss Dragon, you’re looking even prettier than I remember. But you, Miss Allen, beautiful as always, like an angel.”

Fiona flushed, meeting Kian’s eyes, and for a long moment, neither of them looked away.

Valerie groaned, rolling her eyes. “Is this a thing now? Alright, get a room, you two.”

Kian laughed, but his gaze remained on Fiona. “Well, wanna go grab a drink? After the Gala?”

Fiona laughed nervously, clearly flustered. “I-I mean, maybe we could... I don’t know, to celebrate or something?”

“Sounds like a plan.” He winked, grinning as Fiona’s blush deepened.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Valerie shook her head, smirking. “Alright, whatever, I’m leaving. See you later, Icy Boy.”

She left them to their awkward flirting, chuckling to herself, and headed back to the main locker room. She quickly changed into the standard-issue suit, a deep blue with white metal plating over the shoulders and chest, the university’s emblem gleaming on the right side. The suit was practical, sleek, and felt surprisingly comfortable.

A few minutes later, Fiona and Kian finally joined her, still smiling and slightly awkward. Valerie couldn’t resist.

“I can’t believe you managed to fix your makeup at lightning speed,” she teased, eyes twinkling.

Fiona gave her a flustered look. “We didn’t do anything, I swear! Just talked and got to know each other.”

“Uh-huh, sure,” Valerie replied, winking. “I totally believe you.”

“Val!” Fiona’s cheeks flared. Then she laughed, realizing Valerie was just messing with her. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

They both shared a laugh as the door opened again and a staff member entered. “Alright, everyone, briefing starts now. Listen up!”

The room went quiet, and the staff member’s serious expression set the tone as he began detailing the event protocols. Valerie and Fiona exchanged a glance—for today, no more introductory classes, no more rehearsals. The real action was about to begin.

The stadium’s lights dimmed, and an electric hum filled the arena. The crowd of 70,000 roared, the air buzzing with excitement as the host took the stage, his voice amplified to a thunderous volume.

"Citizens of Astoria, welcome to the 2124 Future Stars Gala!” he proclaimed, sweeping his arms wide as fireworks exploded overhead in brilliant streams of blue and silver.

Valerie and Fiona stood in the line with the other freshmen, bowing and waving as they entered the grand arena. Valerie felt a tingle of thrill at the sheer size of the crowd, their enthusiasm washing over her in waves.

“Wow… I’ve never seen this many people in one place,” Fiona whispered, her eyes wide. “And they’re cheering for us. This is insane!”

The host continued his announcements, winding through a series of musical performances that boomed and reverberated through the stadium. Then, with a dramatic gesture, he shouted, “Let the Future Stars Gala begin!”

Suddenly, the entire arena began to shake, and a collective gasp ran through the audience. The stadium slowly lifted, separating from the ground and rising into the sky, levitating above the city. The crowd’s cheers intensified as the ground tilted, rising higher and higher.

Valerie clutched Fiona’s arm. “What the—what’s happening?”

Fiona just grinned, barely able to contain her excitement. “It’s normal! This way, we can go all-out without, you know… leveling the city. Trust me, it’s totally safe… I think.”

Valerie laughed, a little nervously. “Guess I have to trust you on that.”

As they continued to rise, shimmering force fields appeared in layers around the arena, first enclosing the entire stadium and then creating a secondary dome around the audience seats, isolating them from the combat zone. The audience erupted in cheers, thrilled by the spectacle.

Valerie raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Okay, that’s actually kind of cool.”

Once everything was set in place, a figure appeared, hovering above the platform on a levitating silver disk. He wore a tailored dark suit and held a staff, his figure tall and dignified.

“Welcome, citizens of Astoria! I am your host, Maximilian Voss!” His voice carried over the roar of the audience, amplified yet smooth. The crowd erupted into applause once more as he waved to them.

“Before we begin,” Maximilian continued, “please join me in welcoming the President of Vorenthea, Mr. Anthony Kane, and his vice president, Mrs. Gloria Roberts!”

The spotlight shifted to a tall, stately man in his sixties with silver-streaked hair, standing and waving with a calm smile. Beside him, the vice president waved gracefully, both receiving respectful applause from the audience.

“And now, to introduce our honored guests…” Maximilian paused, his voice lowering dramatically. “All the way from Asgard, the strongest hero on the planet, the God of Thunder himself, the mighty Thor!” A collective gasp rippled through the crowd followed by thunderous cheers. “And right beside him, the best and greatest tactician the world has ever seen. He has the looks, the charisma, the aura, let’s give it up, for the God of Mischief himself, Loki!”

A roaring cheers rippled through the crowd. Even Valerie felt a shiver of awe as the spotlight shifted to the two towering figures that stood near the edge of the field.

Thor strode forward, a towering 7 ‘4 ft tall, with a presence that commanded instant attention. His long, golden hair cascaded around his shoulders, his face adorned with a rugged beard that framed his strong jawline. Piercing blue eyes surveyed the crowd with a mixture of strength and warmth, and he wore Asgardian armor that clung to his bulging, muscular frame, decorated with intricate silver designs that glinted under the stadium lights.

Next to him stood Loki, equally imposing at 7’ ft tall, yet exuding a different, almost magnetic charm. Unlike Thor, Loki had short, stylishly groomed black hair, and his skin held a subtle blue hue that hinted at his Jotun heritage. His eyes, a startling, vivid green, sparkled with a mischievous glint, and his smile was sharp, cunning, almost playful. Clad in a crisply tailored dark suit that looked both regal and contemporary, he carried himself with an elegance that starkly contrasted with his brother’s warrior-like aura.

“Even gods!” Fiona whispered, eyes wide with awe. “I can’t believe they’re here. They never come to things like this!”

Thor raised his hand, and the crowd erupted in cheers again. His powerful voice echoed through the arena, calm yet commanding. “It is an honor to witness your young champions—our future defenders—take their first steps toward greatness.”

Loki, standing just a step behind, inclined his head, his expression one of detached amusement. He raised a slender hand, acknowledging the crowd with a wry smile. “Try not to bore us, mortals,” he said, his voice smooth and dark, laced with a hint of mockery. “We are, after all, accustomed to… grander battles.”

The audience roared with laughter and applause, enchanted by Loki’s cutting wit, while Thor merely rolled his eyes, an affectionate grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Valerie nudged Fiona. “Look at that smirk on Loki. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”

Maximilian’s voice rang out again, “With these honored guests and esteemed heroes, I welcome you all once more to the 2124 Future Stars Gala! Let the games begin!”

As the crowd cheered louder than ever, Valerie exchanged a glance with Fiona. “Alright, Fi. This is not so bad, afterall.”

Fiona nodded, her eyes alight with excitement. “Let’s make sure they never forget us.”

Blending into the sea of spectators, the two mysterious figures from before watched the scene with a mixture of disappointment and quiet amusement. One of them—the woman—narrowed her gaze as Thor and Loki received thunderous applause from the audience.

“Can you believe this?” she muttered under her breath, her tone laced with irritation. “The Asgardians. This complicates things...and here I thought we were about to have a clear path.”

The figure beside her, the towering man cloaked in shadows, let out a low chuckle. “Asgardians, why are they here? They must be looking for entertainment. All Gods and Goddesses are the same, always see us, mere mortals, as playthings to be toying with.” he replied with a smirk, his voice smooth but edged with frustration.

She turned to him, eyebrow raised, awaiting his call. “So? What’s the move, boss?”

His gaze never left the stage, where the gods stood basking in the crowd’s admiration. He clenched his jaw, as if wrestling down a surge of impatience. “Nothing. For now, we wait. They’ll be too hard to go up against in the open.”

She smirked, tilting her head thoughtfully. “Should we inform the others?”

He gave a slow, calculated nod. “No. Let's watch and see. Our chance will come.”