Under the Iron Fist

Chapter 10: New Horizons

Milo nervously adjusted his new uniform as he stood outside the training facility. It was his first day of official classes and power training, and butterflies fluttered in his stomach - or maybe he was just unconsciously floating again.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door and entered a large, well-lit room. Three other children around his age were already there, along with a stern-looking instructor.

"Ah, you must be Milo," the instructor said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "Take a seat with the others. We're about to begin."

Milo made his way to the small group, his feet barely touching the ground as he tried to control his nerves.

A girl with bright red hair and a smattering of freckles beamed at him as he approached. "Hi! I'm Zoe," she said, her voice bubbly with excitement. "Can you really fly? That's so cool!"

Milo blushed, stammering, "Um, not exactly. I can sort of... float."

"Still awesome!" Zoe exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious.

The other girl, with long dark hair and almond-shaped eyes, gave Milo a shy smile but didn't speak. She seemed to shrink into herself, as if trying to become invisible.

The boy of the group, stocky with close-cropped blonde hair, nodded at Milo. "I'm Ethan," he said simply, his voice quiet but steady.

As they settled into their seats, the instructor began the lesson. They started with basic history and ethics of power use, but Milo found his attention wandering to his new classmates.

Zoe, he quickly learned, could create and manipulate light. Throughout the lesson, tiny sparkles danced around her fingers, betraying her restless energy. Her optimism seemed boundless, and she met each new piece of information with wide-eyed wonder.

The shy girl, who eventually introduced herself in a whisper as Lily, had the ability to phase through solid objects. Milo noticed how she seemed to partially fade from view when she was nervous, which was often.

Ethan's power became apparent during their first practical exercise. When asked to demonstrate, he created a shimmering force field around himself. Milo noticed how Ethan's eyes constantly scanned the room, his posture protective, especially when looking at Zoe and Lily.

As for Milo, when it was his turn, he managed to hover a few feet off the ground, eliciting an excited squeal from Zoe and a rare smile from Lily.

During their break, Zoe chatted animatedly about her dreams of becoming a hero, while Lily listened quietly, occasionally nodding. Ethan kept a watchful eye on the door, as if expecting trouble.

"So, Milo," Ethan said during a lull in Zoe's chatter, "how'd you end up here?"

Milo hesitated, memories of his capture and abandonment still raw. "I... I was brought here. My parents..." he trailed off, unable to finish.

Understanding flashed in Ethan's eyes. "Yeah. Same for most of us," he said softly. "But hey, we look out for each other now, right?"

Zoe nodded vigorously. "We're like a family!" she declared, throwing her arms around Lily, who looked startled but didn't pull away.

As they were called back to their lessons, Milo felt a warmth in his chest. He missed Elina, but for the first time since coming to the Sanctuary, he felt like he might belong somewhere.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of lessons and power practice. By the end, Milo was exhausted but exhilarated. As they were dismissed, Ethan clapped him on the shoulder.

"You did good today, Milo," he said. "See you tomorrow?"

Milo nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, see you tomorrow."

As he left the training facility, his feet barely skimming the ground, Milo couldn't wait to tell Elina about his day. Despite the circumstances that brought him here, he felt a glimmer of hope. With his new friends and growing control over his abilities, maybe, just maybe, things were looking up.