Mx. Julius accompanied Emilia on the flight back to Parkdale.

First, they’d driven to Union Academy, the main branch of which was conveniently located just outside the city her superspeed had landed her. There, Mx. Julius had given her access to the school locker room. She’d showered and dressed in a set of Academy gym clothes, a pair of plain grey shorts and a t-shirt, both with the golden Academy logo.

Once dressed, Emilia took a moment to look at herself in the shower-clouded mirror. She looked like herself: brown skin, brown hair, brown eyes. But she was happy to realize she wouldn’t have been bothered if she’d been different.

Initially, Emilia objected to the offer of taking one of The Union’s private jets to get home. It felt like bragging. But Mx. Julius insisted and Emilia got the impression not many people could get away with contradicting them. The jet had oversized chairs with plenty of leg room, beige carpeting, and soft, overhead lighting. It was the nicest vehicle Emilia had ever been in and she couldn’t help being a touch embarrassed. It also had a specialized satellite phone. Mx. Julius had Emilia call her parents to let them know she was all right. Her parents had seemed more bemused than worried, and planned to meet her at the local Parkdale airport.

During the flight, Mx. Julius asked Emilia to explain what had happened in as much detail as she could, and Emilia obliged.

“And that’s pretty much it,” Emilia said, shrugging. “I feel like I got pretty lucky.”

Mx. Julius nodded. “Better than the other way around. If you’re up to it, would you mind demonstrating?

Emilia blinked at them. “You mean, my powers?”

“Only if you’re up for it. I understand if you’re too tired.”

Emilia closed her eyes and took a breath. The mental trading cards stood bright in her consciousness, but ached to touch, like she’d strained a metaphysical muscle. She tried again, pushing at the Athlete, willing herself to change, but her shoulders tensed and her temple shrieked. She let out the breath and opened her eyes, wiping away tears.

“It’s fine, Emilia.”

“I’ll try again, just give me a moment.”

“No.” Mx. Julius’s voice was crisp, like the crack of glass. “I’ll not have you injuring yourself to satisfy my curiosity.”

Emilia bit her lip and nodded. She tried not to cry. Here she’d been given an opportunity to show one of the world’s greatest heroes her powers, and she’d failed.

“Emilia, you put your body under a great deal of strain today. I was asking only because I am curious. You don’t owe me a demonstration. Further, you must come to understand the limits of your powers. More than one parahuman has injured themselves because they pushed too hard.”

Emilia swallowed hard, but nodded. “I understand.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I have a few calls to make.” Mx. Julius went to the front of the plane where the satellite phone was.

Of course, Mx. Julius was right. They were an experienced superhero and expert in teaching use of superpowers. Still, Emilia couldn’t help but feel bad.

She tried to dismiss those feelings, to relax her body, to let her mind wander. She deliberately didn’t listen to Mx. Julius’s half of the conversation, partly because she didn’t want to eavesdrop, partly because she was exhausted. The headache that had threatened to return faded.

Distantly, she realized she was staring at Mx. Julius, or at least staring through the space Mx. Julius occupied. Her mind picked up on details: their high-cheek bones, their long legs, their dark hair. Emilia’s breathing turned slow, and quiet. Her shoulders tingled and her thoughts stilled.

Emilia didn’t realize what happened until Mx. Julius hung up the phone and fixed her with a gentle look. “Emilia? Are you doing that on purpose?”

“Oh.” She snapped back to herself and quickly stood from the airplane chair that had turned uncomfortably cold. She hugged herself even as Mx. Julius pulled a blanket from an overhead compartment. “Sorry,” Emilia said. “I guess that happens sometimes now.”

• • •

Her parents hugged her longer and tighter than she ever remembered being hugged. Though it was embarrassing and kind of hard to breathe and the binder of trading cards she held tucked under her arm dug into her ribs, it was nice. She found she was crying, though she couldn’t quite say why. Perhaps the worried look in their eyes. Perhaps that she hadn’t told them about her powers. Perhaps the relief of being home.

When they finally let go, Emilia wiped her eyes and cleared her throat.

“This is Mx. Julius, the Dancer. Mx. Julius, these are my parents, Lilly and Marcus McIntyre.”

Mx. Julius shook her parents’ hands. “Pleasure to meet you. Your daughter has been quite the hero these last few weeks.”

Her parents beamed and Emilia blushed.

“With your permission, I’d like to accompany Emilia to the summer camp. We’ve got some investigating to do, and I think she’ll be an excellent guide.”

Her parents looked at her and she nodded. “I’d like to help.”

They waited in the small, Parkdale Regional Airport terminal for another member of The Union, someone Mx. Julius described as an expert in mystical energy. Mx. Julius and her parents made small talk. Emilia was terrible at small talk, so she tuned it out and leaned into her father’s embrace, comfortable and sleepy.

“Of course, we’ll want to extend Emilia an invitation to Union Academy,” Mx. Julius said, jolting Emilia from her doze.

“You will?” Emilia sat up straight. “But I… I already had freshman year at Parkdale High. And I didn’t do that much really. Besides, I had help and…” She trailed off, the adults looking at her.

After a moment, her mother said, “Mimi, do you want to go to Hero Academy?”

Emilia took a deep breath, steeled herself, and nodded. “But what if I’m not good enough?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Her father smiled. “That’s what going to school is for, to learn.”

Mx. Julius stood, reached into the pocket of their suit, and withdrew a folded piece of paper. It looked quite old. “You should know, just this morning I received an effusive letter of recommendation from… I don’t know quite how to say this, but from a person claiming to be Minerva Aegis.”

Emilia’s expression widened, stunned. Her mother laughed and her father gasped and a moment later they all realized Mx. Julius was completely serious.

Mx. Julius smiled. “We’ll have it authenticated, but I’m certain it’s real. The Purple Prophesier herself said you might not jump at the opportunity, but she also she liked that about you. You have time to think on it.” She looked past Emilia and nodded at someone. “Odd Fellow has arrived.”

Odd Fellow fit his name. He was an older gentleman, bald on top but with his remaining hair in a white braid down to his waist. His skin was pale and wrinkled. He was dressed in faded blue jeans, scuffed cowboy boots, and a leather vest over a pearl-button shirt.

After introductions and handshakes, Mx. Julius said, “Odd Fellow and I have accommodations in town. We’ll meet in the morning and drive to the camp.”

• • •

After a night in her own bed, a thorough shower, and a big breakfast, Emilia was ready to face the day. She put Eddie’s binder in a spare backpack and joined Mx. Julius and Odd Fellow in a black SUV. Mx. Julius drove.

After an hour of mostly quiet driving, Odd Fellow twisted in his seat to look at Emilia in the back. “You met the Purple Prophesier?”

Emilia nodded.

“Ha! I always knew she was real. I used to dream of her. I dreamt she gave me my powers, made me a parahuman mage. Everyone thought I was a nutter.” He grinned and made a speculative sound. “Still do.”

He winked at Emilia and she smiled.

“So,” said Odd Fellow. “The Shield of Humanity, the Master of Time, the Visionary of Violet. What’s she like?”

Emilia shrugged. “Um… Hard to say. She posed as the smithy at Camp Arrowhead and was always encouraging. She was kind to me. And she bought me lunch.”

Odd Fellow’s grin widened. “A true hero.”

The Camp Arrowhead parking lot was filled with vehicles and people. There was honking, shouting, crying, and general chaos as kids loaded their luggage into cars. At the far end of the lot, where the road led to camp, a knot of people stood. Emilia recognized Mr. Northam’s tall form at the far end. Without waiting for the others, she slung her pack on her back and hurried to the knot of people.

Adults shouted.

“My son was nearly killed!”

“You put our kids in danger!”

“A gun? You have a gun at a summer camp?!”

“Bite marks! Something bit her!”

Emilia edged around the group to find Mrs. Fir bearing the brunt of the shouting, expression defeated. Mr. Northam stood behind her, arms crossed, impassive. After several moments, Mrs. Fir noticed her. Her eyes went wide and she ignored the shouting adults to grab Emilia in a hug. Stunned, Emilia was nonetheless pleased.

“You won?” Mrs. Fir’s voice was pitched low, under the cacophony.

Emilia nodded. “I did.”

Mrs. Fir smiled and released her.

The shouting died out and they turned to find Mx. Julius and Odd Fellow had arrived. The parents of Camp Arrowhead kids stared in awe at the superheroes.

Mx. Julius’s tone was cool and collected. “Ladies and gentlemen. I know you must be concerned for your children’s welfare in the wake of this unexpected parahuman activity. We are here to investigate, but based upon evidence already received, we believe this to have been an isolated incident and that there is no further threat to this summer camp.”

Objections rose, but Mx. Julius shifted their stance and the smell of rain blew through the parking lot.

“If you are leaving, please do so in peace.” And that was enough to turn folks around, sed them home, and restore peace.

Amid the milling of folks headed for their cars, Emilia turned to Mrs. Fir. “Do you know if Eddie is still here?”

Mrs. Fir shook her head. “Sorry. His aunt and uncle were some of the first to arrive.”

“Oh.”

Mr. Northam stayed at the head of the parking lot to field questions and make sure campers were paired with parents. Mrs. Fir led Emilia, Mx. Julius, and Odd Fellow to the courtyard. The spot where the stone box had stood for nearly two hundred years was just a patch of smooth earth. Odd Fellow knelt next to the bare patch and closed his eyes.

Emilia took some time to look around the courtyard. It was empty but for them, and bore nothing to indicate there’d been a parapowered fight only the previous day.

“Is everyone leaving?” Emilia asked.

Mrs. Fir shook her head. “A handful of parents chose to let their kids stay. Most of the junior councilors are staying. All the staff. But I’ve had to give a lot of refunds.” She sighed. “I’m not going to be able to cover expenses this year.”

“You’re not shutting down, are you?”

Mrs. Fir shrugged. “Probably not. It will depend on how many people sign up for next year.”

“The Union will put out a statement,” Mx. Julius said. “An isolated incident handled by a resourceful young hero attending Union Academy.”

Mrs. Fir and Emilia looked at them with surprise.

Mx. Julius smiled. “I always enjoyed summer camp when I was young.”

Emilia showed Mx. Julius and Odd Fellow the amphitheater and the copse of trees that had been uprooted, the lake and where the stag’s antlers had protruded, the soccerfields and the sinkhole, the forge and the workbench. At each site, Odd Fellow closed his eyes and breathed slowly.

“I’ve got all I can,” Odd Fellow said after examining the forge. “I don’t sense any other magical entities or items here, and everything seems to be what Emilia says.” He gave Emilia a grin and a nod.

“We should head back then,” Mx. Julius said. They looked at Emilia. “Are you coming with us?”

Emilia considered, then shook her head. “I’d like to stay.”

Mx. Julius nodded. “I suggest you let your parents know.”

• • •

Camp Arrowhead was quiet. Most of the attendees had left. Emilia spent a slow day fishing and hiking. She found Frankie at the archery range and joined her for a few rounds of putting arrows into foam blocks. She kept her backpack carrying Eddie’s binder nearby.

“You were amazing,” Frankie said as they retrieved arrows from the range.

“Me? You saved my butt. You shot a goblin in the eye.”

Frankie shrugged. “Lucky shot. You moved at superspeed.”

Emilia blushed.

Ms. Amy made enchiladas for dinner. The dozen campers, junior councilors, and staff still in attendance sat at just two tables. The cafeteria echoed. No one said much.

After dinner, Mrs. Fir suggested a movie night and they all made their way to the Commons. About halfway through Romancing the Stone, Emilia made her way up to the library. She put her backpack on the floor and withdrew Eddie’s binder. She paged through the cards slowly, taking time to familiarize herself with each person, from Strongman and Odd Fellow to Goldmane and Undaunted.

And there, at the very end, on the last page, was the card Ms. Aegis had created: the Purple Prophesier and the Amazing Mimic. Neither of them looked particularly heroic in the picture, Ms. Aegis a pale-haired older woman and Emilia in her speed-ragged clothes, but it made her smile nonetheless.

A floorboard creaked.

Emilia looked up to see Eddie. He looked small in an oversized t-shirt, ruffled hair, and thick glasses. His cheeks were red.

“Um. Hi.” He wouldn’t look at her.

“Eddie. I thought you’d left.”

“The Dancer was on the news. She said the camp was safe. I uh… I encouraged my parents to bring me back. I think others are too. It’s all over social media.”

“Neat.”

Eddie cleared his throat and looked up. “I just wanted to apologize. For, you know, turning into the Fiend of Fire.”

“Oh. Well.” Emilia blushed. “That’s fine. I mean, it was only for a bit.”

“I felt it, you know? And I… I gave in to it.”

“Eddie, it’s fine.”

“It’s not. I gave in ‘cause I was angry. That’s on me.” He sniffled, wiped away a tear, and looked away again.

“Eddie…“

“And don’t you dare apologize to me. You already did. Plus, you were right and I was wrong, so…”

“All right. But I’ve got something for you.”

Eddie blinked and looked up. His eyes lit upon the binder in her hands.

“I met Minerva Aegis. The Woman with Purple Eyes.”

“The Archetype…” Eddie whispered.

“Right. Apparently there was time travel involved. It was all a trick by the Demon Lord to survive his fight with the Heroes from… Anyway, I asked if she could rescue your binder.”

She held it out to him.

Eddie put his hands behind his back.

“I don’t deserve…“

“Stop that. I couldn’t have done this without you, and it’s yours anyway, so just take it.”

Eddie approached. After a moment and a half, he took the binder and his shoulders relaxed. He took a deep breath and bit his lip. Carefully, as though the whole thing might fall apart if he handled it too roughly, Eddie opened the binder and turned each page, lips moving faintly as though in prayer. When he got to the last page, he stopped and cocked his head.

“Ms. Aegis made that. It’s one of a kind.”

Eddie grinned.