Pewterstone City's evening glow was a canvas of gold, our two figures, mine and Albert's, dwarfed against the urban landscape. We had just emerged from the monumental academic challenge that was the entrance exam to Kaleidoscope Preparatory Academy. The prestige of making it into Kaleidoscope was akin to a map to the stars; it was a gateway to becoming part of the illustrious Magical Knight Corps.

"I think I nailed that last question about luminary energy management. How about you, Sienna?" he asked, practically skipping in his step.

Albert was a comforting contrast against the concrete world around us, his vibrant red hoodie making him stand out as if a painter had daubed a bold crimson stroke on a grayscale canvas. With his soft, rounded cheeks and a pair of dark eyes that shone brighter than the city lights, his endearing charm was akin to a warm fireplace in many cold nights.

I smiled at his enthusiasm, although I couldn't shake the heaviness in my chest from the thought of returning home. "Yeah, I think I did well too. Fingers crossed we both get in, right?"

"Definitely! You and me against the world and whatnot! We'll definitely both get in," Albert exclaimed, his eyes sparkling excitedly.

I matched his grin with my own, a stubborn streak of defiance running through my veins. "I knocked it out of the park, Al. We're getting into this academy, no two ways about it."

As we continued walking, the streets started to fill with people heading home from work. The hustle and bustle of the city was both exciting and exhausting. Our journey continued through the city's heartbeat, the evening rush.

A little girl passed us, her hand securely tucked into her father's, a star-shaped balloon bobbing above her. A pang of longing shot through me at the sight of such unabashed joy.

I watched them go, a pang of yearning and envy stirred in my heart. It had been a while since I experienced such unbridled happiness and innocence.

The city's vibrant colors seemed to dance around us, with people rushing by in a blur. The sounds of laughter and chattering filled the air, a stark contrast to the tense silence that awaited me back at my apartment. I tried to push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the dream I shared with Albert.

"Hey Sienna, do you ever wonder what it would be like to be a Magical Knight? You know, to protect and serve the people with all those amazing powers?" Albert asked, a dreamy look in his eyes. "Imagine us, Sienna. Magical Knights protecting the city, casting spells, and living the superheroes' life. Isn’t it exciting?"

I paused momentarily, letting the idea fill my heart, before brushing it off. "Honestly, Al… I don't see myself as a hero. It's a tall order, way beyond my reach."

"What? Of course you are, Sienna! You're one of the smartest people I know, and with your heart, there's no doubt you could do anything you set your mind to," Albert exclaimed, his eyes wide with conviction. His chubby cheeks flushed with excitement as he spoke.

His confidence sent a warm wave washing over me, but I shook my head, "Being a Magical Knight is more than just brains and willpower, Al. It's much bigger than us."

His thoughtful nod followed, "True... Courage, too. You've got that, loads of it."

The unexpected compliment earned him a snort, "Thanks, Al, really. But, I've made my peace with it. We're fifteen. Usually, girls are chosen by twelve and boys by fourteen."

Albert shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips, "Maybe they'll make an exception for someone as exceptional as you, Sienna."

Suddenly, my surroundings swirled into a whirl of colors, a throbbing pain piercing my skull. I staggered, clutching my head, "What's... happening?"

His eyes wide with alarm, Albert echoed, "What's what? Sienna, are you alright?"

Before I could answer, an explosion shattered the air, the distortion in my vision clearing. I steadied myself, taking deep breaths, just as a streak of light zipped past, revealing Magical Girl Calisto Pink.

She landed elegantly, concern etched on her face, "Are you both okay?"

Albert and I locked eyes, before I managed to respond, adrenaline mixing with fear and awe in my veins, "Yeah. What's going on?"

"Oh, it's just Dark Princess Eris causing trouble. As usual," Calisto Pink replied with a sigh. "I have to go take care of it, but I'll make sure you guys are safe first."

With that, she leaped into action, racing off toward the source of the explosion. Albert and I stood there, staring after her in awe.

"God, she's amazing," Albert breathed, his eyes shining with admiration.

I nodded, feeling a twinge of jealousy. Calisto Pink was everything I wished I could be. Wtih long, twin-braided pink hair, brilliant red eyes, and a winged staff tipped with a heart to match her form-fitting peploi outfit. She was brave, powerful, beautiful, and admired by all. But I knew that wasn't who I was. I was just a regular geeky girl with no special powers or talents.

The sound of another explosion interrupted my thoughts, and we both turned to see a massive cloud of smoke rising from the direction Calisto Pink had gone. We exchanged another glance before Albert went sprinting toward the chaos.

As we reached the edge of the smoke, we saw Calisto Pink battling against Dark Princess Eris, shadowy figure wreathed in darkness. Shadows flickered around her red eyes and blonde hair as she laughed maniacally, her eyes glowing with a malevolent light. She was shrouded in a black robe — and looked like a picture-perfect caricature of a supervillain.

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"NYEHEHEHEHE!! FOOLISH GIRL, YOU CANNOT STOP ME!" Dark Princess Eris cackled, sending tendrils of darkness racing toward Calisto Pink.

Calisto Pink was quick, dodging the tendrils of darkness with ease as she retaliated with blasts of pink energy. My heart raced at the sight, filled with both fear and excitement.

"The forces of darkness will never prevail against the power of love and justice! I will protect this city and its people!" Calisto Pink declared, her voice ringing out with conviction.

Al and I watched in awe as the battle raged on, not daring to interfere. We were just regular people, after all. Just then, a stray blast of energy shot towards us, causing me to make an undignified "eek" noise as it splashed against my personal aura with a shimmer. Al quickly grabbed me and scrambled to duck behind a nearby building.

"Are you alright, Sienna?" Albert asked, his eyes filled with worry and concern.

I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me at the sight of his worried face. "Yeah... I'm fine. Thanks, Al."

We stayed hidden until the sounds of battle died down, and the smoke cleared to reveal Calisto Pink standing victorious over Dark Princess Eris. As she turned toward us, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for her.

"You two okay?" Calisto Pink asked, walking towards us with concern etched on her features.

Albert was the first to speak up, his voice shaking with excitement. "Y-yeah, we're okay. That was really cool, though!"

Calisto Pink smiled at him, her eyes twinkling with delight. "I'm glad you thought so. But you must be careful from now on. These battles can be dangerous for those without powers."

She turned to the sprawled-out villainess on the ground, "Now, Eris, we're going to have a very long talk about the consequences of your actions."

As she began to tie up Dark Princess Eris, I watched in awe at how she effortlessly subdued the villainess. It was clear that her powers weren't just for show. Calisto Pink was a true hero, and I couldn't help but feel a deep admiration for her.

"Thank you for keeping us safe!" I said to Calisto Pink, feeling a torrent of gratitude wash over me as I waved at her.

A sense of emptiness filled me as Calisto Pink soared off into the sky with Eris in tow, leaving behind a trail of light pink ribbons. I wanted to be like her so badly, to make a difference in the world. But I knew that was just a pipe dream.

"Come on, Sienna. We should head back home," Albert said, breaking me out of my reverie.

I nodded, following him down the street as we returned to our respective homes. The city was quiet now, the sounds of battle fading into the distance.

Just as I was about to turn the corner, I caught sight of something out of the corner of my eye. A shimmering, blue object was hovering in the air. It looked like a small hole in the sky or a spiraling ball of energy of some sort. Then, as quickly as it'd appeared, I blinked, and it vanished.

Was that just my imagination?

I shook my head, chalking it up to the excitement of the battle.

After a short bus ride, I finally arrived at my apartment. As I opened the door, the tense silence I had been trying to push aside earlier returned with a vengeance. The room was empty, as usual, and the only sound was the clock ticking on the wall. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, before collapsing onto the couch.

"Mom... I'm home," I murmured, my voice ringing through the empty room.

There was no response, just the same old silence that I had grown to know so well. I knew that she wouldn't be back until late into the early morning, but being alone in the apartment always made me feel uneasy. It was like the walls were closing in on me, suffocating me with their oppressive silence.

I turned on the TV, hoping the sound would break the tension, but all that greeted me was static.

Looks like our service was cut again.

With a sigh, I got up and walked to the window, staring out at the city below.

It was beautiful, in a way. The city's lights twinkled like stars in the night sky, and the distant hum of traffic was like a lullaby. But despite its beauty, the city could be dangerous, especially with supervillains like Dark Princess Eris running around.

Status, I thought in my head, pulling up a holographic screen that only I could see.

Name: Sienna Russo

Level: 15

Occupation: Middle School Student

HP: 171/219

SP: 24 / 181

MP: 0/0

Status Effects: None

I watched my HP aura tick from 170 back to 171 and sighed. I couldn't wait to get out of here and make something out of myself.

My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I groaned, knowing I had to scavenge for food in the kitchen. As I rummaged through the fridge, I found a half-empty carton of milk, a bruised apple, and some bread that was starting to mold.

Sighing, I grabbed the carton of milk and a box of cereal from the counter before emptying what was left at the bottom to make myself a bowl. As I sat down to eat, I quietly contemplated my life.

I had always dreamed of becoming a hero like Calisto Pink, but I knew it was impossible. I was just a regular girl who wasn't born with special powers, [Skills], or [Talents]. And with my mother always working night shifts, I was left alone most of the time.

After a few more moments of contemplation, I finished the rest of the cereal, put the dishes away, and went to the bathroom to clean up.

My stomach still felt empty, but I felt a little better now.

I had to take things one step at a time, but I couldn't wait to get the results back for the entrance exams. I promised myself I would carve out the life I wanted for myself once I figured out what that would look like.

I stared at the mirror, frowning at my bone-thin figure and the freckles that dotted my tanned face. My neck-length brown hair was slightly frizzled and had seen better days, and my hazel-brown eyes were bloodshot from all the intense studying.

A thought crossed my mind. A fantasy, really. I briefly wondered what it would be like to have Callisto Pink's powers, to be able to fight against evil and protect the innocent.

But, then again, I was just... me. Regular ol' Sienna. Sure, I had good grades, but I wasn't exactly coordinated, good-looking, or particularly creative. I was just average, and nothing set me apart from the other girls in school.

I was practically invisible, which was a small blessing compared to the torment that Al got sometimes.

Having a goofball of a childhood best friend like Al helped a lot for holding onto my sanity, too; he always made me feel better about myself. I just wished I could do more to reciprocate and raise him up too, sometimes.

Still, I did realize that being average didn't mean I couldn't make a difference. After all, Calisto Pink was just an ordinary girl before she gained her powers.

I could find my own way to make a difference in the world.

Maybe, just maybe, I could find my own way to make a difference in the world.

Maybe I didn't need superpowers to be a hero.

Maybe... all I needed was a little bit of courage and a lot of heart, starting with the people I cared about the most.

Getting into bed early always helped with the hunger pangs, and I snuggled in against my pillow.

Thankfully, I felt myself drift off into a dreamless sleep, praying desperately for a better tomorrow.