Paladin's Academy

Act II, Chapter 5: Feels Just Like Home

Interior. Paladin's Academy, Building 2, Classroom 416. Day.

After last night's movie night, the first-year Paladins find themselves in a chalk-white classroom. The seats are positioned like an auditorium. In the middle is a small podium with a whiteboard behind it. Dreadnought, who is sitting in front, rubs his eyes while drinking some coffee.

Man, this place brings me back. He thinks to himself, finishing the cup. After having an action-packed week, Quinn finds the change of pace uneasy. In the last few days alone, he has played Save the Citizen, said goodbye to his brother, and asked out his new crush. While change is something Quinn is not used to, like the first animal to walk, he will adapt. 

A man walks into the room, his head almost bumping into the door frame. He has light brown hair and pale blue eyes, and he is wearing a white and black coat with brown pants. Dreadnought accidentally crushes the cup as the veins in his head start to pop. He starts breathing sharply,

"Yo, is this seat free?" Double Trouble asks, sitting next to Dreadnought. He snaps out of his trance and replies, "Yes, it is."

"Cool, want a snack?" D.T. asks, handing Dreadnought a banana. "Thank you," he responds, eating the banana.

"Good morning, students," the man says, "I am Calcite, your Quirkology teacher for the semester."

He even sounds like them too. Dreadnought reflects on Calcite's voice. He shares the same soft yet intimidating manner of talking, just like his parents.

"For our class today, we will only be going through introductions," Calcite says, presenting the course requirements on the whiteboard. Which just so happens to also be a monitor.

"In this subject, I am going to cover the origin of superpowers, dating all the way back to Zero Point, as well as the different types of abilities. And then, I will help you understand your own powers and how to better control and develop them."

"Now, to begin our introductory chapter. A 'Unique Ability' is something that modifies our base genum. Granting us access to fantastical powers we could only dream of."

"Even after thirty years of study, mankind still hasn't seen the zenith of power one could hold."

"Genetically, Unique Abilities are derived from what we call the Z-Gene. It is an extra strand of DNA that helps us control our powers. Not everyone is fortunate to be born with one."

"Around ninety percent of the population has a Unique Ability. For reference, that it is the entire population of the northern hemisphere."

"Our abilities vary from person to person. Some would find that they are able to control the elements, while others discover their enhancements are within. Like I said earlier, we are only on the tip of the iceberg."

"Next week, we will be discussing the different types of abilities. Be sure to read Robert Lasiloo's 1983 study titled 'The New Zenith of Humanity.' It is required reading for this subject. And with that, you are all dismissed."

Calcite closes his laptop as he leaves the room. Dreadnought blinks twice as he checks his phone. In what seemed like minutes, three hours have passed. He looks to his left and notices that D.T. is knocked out cold. He taps him on the shoulder as D.T. jolts up,

"I was listening!"

"The class is over, Double Trouble."

"Oh," D.T. remarks, "wanna grab a bite?"

"Uh, sure," Dreadnought replies. The two quickly head to the cafeteria, which, during lunchtime, is unsurprisingly packed. They grab their food as they look for any table to sit at. They find one right near a vending machine. Unfortunately, it is a four-seater table, and two people are already sitting.

Double Trouble doesn't seem to care, though. He heads for the table while Dreadnought begrudgingly follows.

"Hey! Is anyone sitting here?"

"Not all, Sir. Please, have a seat." A man says, wearing green and yellow Kevlar. The man sitting next to him is wearing a dark gray trenchcoat, a black vest, and, most importantly, a White Mask.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Dreadcuck and Double Tumble. What brings you two here?"

"Amazing wordplay, White Mask,"

"Shut the fuck up, Sure-Shit!"

"Uh, lunch?" Dreadnought replies.

"Huh, lunch. Of course, you would eat that."

"What?"

"You wouldn't catch ME eating that slop."

"But, you are?"

"Think you're clever, huh? Dreadfuck! How bout we go, huh?" White Mask stands up, almost making a scene.

"I would not like to."

"Scared? Chicken? Buck Buck Buck!" White Mask starts imitating a rooster.

"I just want to eat lunch."

"That's what I thought. Pussy," White Mask sits back down. In one gulp, he swallows his entire lunch. "You know, Dreadclit, I heard a rumor going around about you."

"And what is that?"

"You like one of our classmates."

"Where did you hear that?"

"I have my methods."

Earlier this morning, White Mask returned from his morning jog. As he got water from the fridge, he heard some gossip from the kitchen table.

"My God, the movie blows,"

"Yeah, I can't believe you all watched that shit."

"I know, but like, Streetwise was kinda hot in it."

"You're crazy!"

"That's not all. Last night, I heard Dreadnought ask Snooze out on a date!"

"No way!"

"Yeah way. They were like planning a second movie night and stuff!"

"I didn't know Dreadnought had that dawg in him. Speaking of, did you hear that..."

White Mask quickly walks away as he laughs to himself. They say that to beat your enemy, you must know your enemy. Or some stupid shit like that. 

Back in the present, White Mask outs Dreadnought's crush right in front of the two other boys.

"Snooze ey? Good choice, sir." Sure-Shot nods approveably.

Double Trouble doesn't react. He is too focused on his lunch right now to even comprehend the drama unfolding before him.

"Word travels fast, Dreadsuck. When you mess up, and I know you will, I'll hear about it."

"That sounds gay,"

"Eat shit, Sure-Shot. Come on, let's go."  White Mask leaves with Sure-Shot.

"What was that all about?" Double Trouble asks.

"No idea," Dreadnought ponders. The two sit for a little while longer.