Luminance || The Umbrella Academy

౨ৎ Introduction

The Academy, 1996

The courtyard of the Umbrella Academy mansion was silent, the air thick with tension. Little Number Eight stood at the center, her small hands clasped tightly in front of her. The other siblings watched from the stone steps, their expressions ranging from curiosity to impatience. 

Sir Reginald Hargreeves stood nearby, his posture rigid, his face impassive. "Begin," he said, his voice clipped and unyielding. 

Eight hesitated, her eyes darting to the other children. Diego rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, while Klaus stifled a laugh. Allison offered her a small, encouraging nod, but it only made Eight’s stomach twist harder. She looked down at her hands, unsure if she should even try. 

"I said begin," Sir Reginald repeated, his tone sharpening. 

She exhaled slowly, raising one trembling hand. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a faint glow appeared at her fingertips, weak and flickering like the flame of a dying candle. The light wavered as she tried to focus, forming a small, shaky orb no larger than a marble. 

The siblings leaned in, squinting at the feeble display. 

"That's it?" Diego muttered, unimpressed. 

"Quiet," Sir Reginald snapped, his cold gaze fixed on Eight. "More. Now." 

Eight’s heart pounded. She knew what he wanted—something bigger, something stronger. But she couldn’t risk it. What if it got out of control? What if she hurt someone? 

The orb wavered and dimmed further, shrinking into almost nothing. Eight lowered her hand, tears stinging her eyes. "I... I can’t." 

Sir Reginald’s face hardened. He stepped forward, towering over her. "You can," he said, his voice low but dangerous. "You are simply too afraid to try." 

"I don’t want to hurt anyone," she whispered. 

"You are more of a danger to yourself and others by refusing to master your abilities," he retorted, turning away from her. "Until you learn control, you will not train with the others. Fear has no place in this family." 

His words stung, but they weren’t new. He motioned for the other children to follow him inside. One by one, they rose and filed into the mansion, some casting her pitiful glances, others ignoring her entirely. 

Vanya lingered at the door for a moment, her expression unreadable. She started to say something, but then thought better of it and disappeared inside. 

Eight was left alone in the courtyard, her hands still faintly glowing before the light flickered out completely. She stared at the empty space where the orb had been, anger and shame swirling in her chest.