Chiron Academy

Chapter 4.33: Picking Teams

"How did your testing stuff go?" Todd said quietly.

"I can definitely say," Wyatt said as diplomatically as possible, "that it was a thing that I experienced. And that that thing was awful"

"I know, man. It was freaking brutal; I feel like they've plumbed the depths of my brain. I swear I stalled for like ten minutes just trying to remember Avogadro's number. By the end, I could barely remember how many electrons were in a valence shell."

Wyatt had no idea what Avogadro's number was. He was pretty sure it had nothing to with avocados, but he thought it might have been a brilliant fake-out on some mathematician's part.

Todd continued:

"I'm just worried I didn't show them my full knowledge. I know they'll probably take my grades from school into account, but I'm not sure how the classes here work anyway. Like, will they still have AP classes or would I just be able to take the test at the end of the semester?"

Wyatt figured if avocados had a number, it should be 0. Because avocados were way gross. It's all they deserve.

"But they gave me my schedule, and it looks pretty good. It's got some pretty meaty looking classes. I'm excited about this Chemistry class I'm taking. Dr. Hammond said they have like 3 electron microscopes here that we get to use. A lot of colleges don't even have one! He said I'm making good progress towards college acceptance. How about you? Do you have anything good?"

Wyatt sighed and pulled his folded up schedule out of his pocket. He hadn't been excited about showing it to anyone. He unfolded it and glanced it. He didn't wince, but every entry on the page he saw filled him with dread.

"Mostly retaking classes from last year," he said cooly. "Elementary Algebra at 7, Beginning Chemistry at 8. So that's fun."

"Aww shucks, dude, that suuuuuucks," Todd said sympathetically.

Wyatt and Todd's attention was pulled up to the podium at the front of the room where Mr. Buckingham was waving for everyone's attention.

"Okay, everyone! You all still awake?"

"Now, I know that y'all must be tired out after the rigmarole of the day. But I want you to know that we are grateful for putting up with us and we have a bit of break planned for you for the rest of the day. But first, one last item or two before let you free to spread your wings."

His face resumed its usual wide grin, his perfectly white teeth shining, as he looked down at some notes.

"First thing, I want you all to look beneath your seats."

En masse, the sounds of people shifting and the creaking of chairs flooded the room. Wyatt reached under his chair and pulled out a book. The paperback, only a few hundred pages, had a vividly yellow color. On the front cover was a silhouette of muscular man and woman posing as if they were flying. Even in the dark auditorium, Wyatt could see the words 'Hero's Handbook'  emblazoned with at the top. 

"The book you are holding in your hands is the Hero's Handbook. Think of it as a source for knowledge as to how to be a superhero. How-To Hero, if you will."

He let out a little laugh.

"Each page is full of important tips and tricks of the trade you all have partaken in. Study it; learn from it. It will help you be the best you can."

"Second thing: you may notice that there are a few of you in this program. Just five or six or so," he said to the crowd.

"I don't pretend to know all of you yet, nor can I be there fighting with you, giving you tips. I won't always be here with y'all every moment. As much as I would much rather spend my time with you guys, the boring old folks that run the administrative side of things keep saying they need my assistance. Mostly for signatures, I understand."