After the first-year assembly, Samuel had gone back to his room.
He hadn’t dared to approach her.
Raine, of course.
The thought had crossed his mind—a fleeting second where he had almost moved, almost spoken. But he hadn’t.
She seemed… too good for him. Too perfect.
What was someone like him—someone who had been homeless—supposed to do with someone like her?
You’re not homeless anymore, a voice in his head reminded him.
But the feeling still gnawed at him.
His heart still pounded in his throat, trying to claw its way through his ribs.
He stepped into his room and went to close the door—
But just before it shut, a hand pressed against it.
Samuel turned in an instant.
Reflex. Survival instinct.
If someone wanted into your space, they wanted something.
He braced himself, ready to fight, to block—
Then he saw who it was.
The guy with the tattoos.
Sharp, intelligent eyes. Black hair that fell just over them. He was built, but not heavy—more like someone who knew how to move fast. Efficient. Tactical.
“Figured I’d introduce myself. We’re neighbors, after all.” His voice was calm, grinning as he extended a hand. “Lior Mesar.”
Samuel didn’t hesitate.
Someone actually coming to him?
Miracles do exist.
He grabbed Lior’s hand in a firm shake. “Samuel Sero. You can call me Sam. Like the real hero of Lord of the Rings—Samwise Gamgee.”
Lior raised an eyebrow, grin widening.
“Hot take. Don’t hear that one often.”
Samuel looked at Lior like he had lost his mind.
"He carried Frodo. Up the mountain. Carried Frodo. Up the fucking mountain!"
He kept staring, waiting for some moment of realization, but Lior’s grin didn’t waver.
"Sam stayed with Frodo," Samuel continued, his voice softer but just as firm. "When he didn’t have to. He stayed, always. Like a real friend."
Lior chuckled again but let the debate go. "If you say so, man." He shrugged. "Anyway, I’m your neighbor. Good to meet you. Maybe we chill tomorrow?"
Samuel nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Sounds good. See you in class, man!"
With a final nod, they turned away, and the door slid shut behind them.
Samuel stood there for a moment in the quiet of his room.
He changed, climbed into bed—
But his thoughts wandered.
To her.
Raine.
Not the simple version of her. Not just her name, her looks, or the aura around her.
But who she really was.
That question lingered in his mind as he slowly drifted into sleep.
<hr>
A blaring alarm exploded through his room.
Samuel shot upright, completely disoriented. His eyes darted around, searching for something to hit—but there was no clock in sight.
Then, suddenly, a voice echoed through the space:
“Cadet Samuel Sero, status: awake. Task: check schedule and prepare for breakfast and lessons.”
Samuel groaned. “Jeesh, does it have to be this dramatic?”
Silence.
Then the voice responded:
“Objection noted. Objection submitted to administration.”
Samuel’s eyes widened. “WHAT?”
Panic surged through him. He jumped up, flailing his arms like he was trying to swat an invisible swarm of bees.
“NO! NO! CANCEL! STOP!”
But the voice didn’t return.
He stood there for a moment, heart pounding, then let out a deep sigh.
Fine. Whatever. What was even on his schedule?
He grabbed his tablet and—unable to resist—mimicked Lynn’s stance, fingers flying across the screen as if he were solving world crises.
Antennary:
07:00 – 08:00 Breakfast – Dining Hall
08:00 – 10:00 Class: School Rules & Conduct – Room 27.2A (Building 27, Floor 2, Room A)
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch – Dining Hall
13:00 – 14:00 Class: Team Formation Year 1 and Discussing Team Assignment – Arena 3
14:00 – 17:00 Simulation: Team Assignment – Arena 3 (Bring extra clothes)
17:00 – 22:00 Dinner & Free Time – Training, Studying, Practicing
Samuel slowly exhaled through his lips. "Pretty packed schedule…" he sighed.
Still, despite the grumbling, a thrill buzzed under his ribs. This was the real deal.
And he was damn ready for it.
<hr>
After showering—his first real shower in months—Samuel stepped into the hallway, feeling fresher than he had in ages.
He had barely taken a few steps when an ear-splitting alarm blared from the room next to him.
He stopped.
Sighed.
Seriously?
Knocking softly on Lior’s door, he waited. No response. He tried again, but the deafening noise inside drowned out everything.
With a resigned shake of his head, he pushed the door open and found Lior still dead asleep, completely unfazed by what sounded like a full-blown air raid siren.
Samuel walked over and aimed a sharp jab into the blankets—right where his ribs should be.
Lior shot up instantly, eyes wide, completely disoriented.
“Huh… what time is it?”
Samuel raised an eyebrow. “That’s your first question? Not ‘what the hell is happening?’ Your room sounds like a war zone, Churchill. And you just slept through it.”
Right on cue, the same monotone robotic voice from earlier echoed through the room:
“Cadet Samuel Sero, thank you for assisting a fellow student. One point awarded to Student Samuel Sero. Cadet Lior Mesar, report to administration after your classes.”
The voice cut out.
Lior groaned and flopped back onto his bed dramatically. “Already? Man, I was so comfortable.”
Samuel gave him a deadpan look. “How do you even sleep—no, you know what, forget it. Come on, we need to eat.”
He turned and headed into the hall, while Lior reluctantly dragged himself out of bed, muttering under his breath.
<hr>
The dining hall was already packed.
First-years, second-years, third and fourth years—each sitting in their own little groups, their own worlds. A chaotic mix of murmured conversations, small arguments, bursts of laughter, and the rustle of paper from students buried in their books.
Samuel scanned the room quickly.
No Raine.
But Lynn was there.
He grabbed a tray and walked toward a small machine near the kitchen counter.
Bleep.
"Cadet Samuel Sero. Breakfast ready in 42 seconds. Proceed to kitchen counter."
Samuel frowned at the device, throwing it another suspicious glance as he headed to the counter.
There, waiting for him, was an enormous guy holding an equally massive plate of food.
“That’s a lot…” Samuel muttered, eyeing the mountain of breakfast. “And how did you know what I wanted?” He narrowed his eyes at the man. “You got, like… culinary superpowers?”
The man laughed and shook his head. “The system sees everything, Samuel. It already calculated what you’d want. You’ll get the full explanation later—just eat.”
Samuel cast one last wary glance at his plate but eventually shrugged.
Whatever. Food was food.
He turned and made his way toward Lynn’s table.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
For the first time, he felt less empty than usual.
On a normal morning, he’d be sitting on a cardboard box with some stale bread.
Now, he was in the dining hall of one of the best hero universities in the world.
He dropped into the seat across from Lynn.
“Hello, Lynn! What kind of delicious meal did you get? I have… some kind of pancake with vegetables, potatoes, and a piece of meat.”
“Yachaejeon,” Lynn said flatly, not looking up.
“Yachaejeon?” Samuel repeated, genuinely curious.
Lynn pointed at his pancakes. “It’s yachaejeon. Korean vegetable pancakes. Nutritious, balanced, and filling.” She glanced briefly at her own plate. “Oatmeal with legumes and quark. Apple on the side. Plus a distribution of supplements.”
“Sounds delicious,” Samuel said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Lynn gave him a quick, analysing look. “Taste is a construct. This is nutritionally efficient.”
Samuel grinned. “Missed the joke again, Lynn.”
“I know.”
He started eating, eyes casually scanning the hall.
Where was Raine?
Mid-chew, Lior plopped down beside him with an exhausted look. “Pfff, guys, I had the worst—”
“I am not a guy, but a woman,” Lynn interrupted immediately.
Lior froze mid-sentence, staring at her with his mouth slightly open before turning to Samuel for help.
Samuel barely kept his laughter in check, keeping his voice as serious as possible.
“Wow, Lior. Didn’t notice Lynn’s a lady? How rude.”
Lior’s eyes darted between Lynn and Samuel, panic flashing across his face. “I, uh… I didn’t mean—I just thought—”
Samuel burst out laughing, and to his surprise, he caught the faintest smirk on Lynn’s face.
Lior groaned and leaned back in his chair. “I hate you both already.”
Now that Lior was seated, he and Lynn drifted into a casual conversation—small talk. Samuel could tell Lynn hated it, but Lior didn’t seem to care.
Meanwhile, Samuel’s focus was elsewhere.
Or rather—on someone else.
Raine.
Where was she?
His eyes scanned the dining hall, searching.
Then, without looking up, Lynn casually pulled him out of his trance.
“Back left. Last table. Alone.”
Samuel turned his head—
And there she was.
Raine.
A solitary figure in the middle of the chaos.
But something else nagged at him.
His gaze flicked back to Lynn, eyes narrowing slightly.
“How did you know I was looking for…” He paused, catching himself, eyes darting toward Lior. No way was he handing his annoying neighbour ammunition this early. “…favourite spot?”
Lynn raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “Nice try, Sero. Now Lior definitely doesn’t know what you’re talking about.”
Lior glanced between them, clearly aware that something was going on.
Lynn remained unfazed. “I already calculated you would do this. Based on your reaction to Raine during the first-year assembly.” She paused for a fraction of a second. “Also, I’ve updated my estimate. Your current probability of success is now 2.2%.”
Samuel felt a strange, inexplicable sense of triumph.
“That’s already way higher than last time! What changed?”
Before Lynn could answer, Lior inserted himself into the conversation, waggling his eyebrows.
“Do we have a little crush, Sero?”
Samuel opened his mouth to fire back, but Lynn beat him to it.
“Shall we remind you that you can’t even recognize a ‘girl’ when you see one?” she said flatly. Then, as if Lior no longer existed, she turned back to Samuel.
“Based on the duration of time she looked back at you yesterday, I’ve calculated your chances have increased by 57.1% from my original estimate. Rounded to one decimal, of course.”
Samuel nodded as if this were the most logical thing in the world.
“Naturally. Makes perfect sense.”
Meanwhile, Lior had stood up and was now enthusiastically waving in Raine’s direction.
Samuel reacted instantly.
In one fluid motion, he grabbed Lior by the collar and yanked him back down into his seat.
Lior landed with a thud.
“Jesus! Are you strong or something?” he muttered, straightening his shirt.
The three of them finished their breakfast and headed toward the building for their first class.
“Building twenty-seven,” Samuel muttered as he scanned his surroundings. “How many buildings are there? Is all of this for students? What in the actual—”
Lynn tapped something into her tablet, then—miraculously—actually looked up at him.
That was progress.
“The university buildings are also used by heroes affiliated with the school. There are mission facilities, full data centers, and other support structures for hero work,” Lynn explained.
Samuel nodded. That made sense. “Are there places that are off-limits to students?”
Lynn shot him a sharp look.
“Already planning to get into trouble, Sero?” Lior grinned.
Lynn turned to him. “It’s neither wise nor logical to seek out restricted areas. There will be severe consequences if you’re caught.” She looked back at Samuel. “Don’t let yourself be influenced by someone like Lior.”
Lior gave her an exaggeratedly offended look. “Someone like me? What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lynn stared at him, cold and unbothered. “You know exactly what it means.”
After another ten minutes of walking, they reached the classroom. Inside, a sizable group of first-years was already scattered throughout the room.
Samuel’s gaze drifted—instinctively—toward the back row.
And there she was.
Raine. Alone.
His heart stuttered, just for a second, before he pulled himself together.
“Come on, let’s sit in the back too. But over there,” he said, pointing to the opposite side of the row.
Lynn immediately raised an eyebrow. “Sitting that far back is illogical. Based on the projected volume of the instructor’s voice, this could result in—”
Lior groaned, rolled his eyes, and simply dragged Lynn along.
At the same time, Samuel clamped a hand over her mouth.
“We’re kidnapping her, Lior! Nice and simple, no overthinking required.”
Lynn’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Samuel barely dodged it when she tried to bite his hand.
They settled into their seats and waited for the instructor to arrive.
The door opened, and Samuel recognized him instantly.
Harren.
The same man who had helped him get into Valcroy Academy.
But this time, he wasn’t in uniform.
He was in his hero suit.
For the first time, Samuel really saw just how massive the man was. His arms looked like they were made of steel, his entire build radiating power. He was about the same height as Samuel, but heavier, denser.
A bold "H" stood out on the front of his suit. The rest was deep purple and black—sleek, functional, commanding.
“Everyone sit down and be quiet,” Harren said.
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried so much authority that the entire class instantly obeyed. The room fell silent as students scrambled into their seats.
His gaze swept across the room, lingering on Samuel for just a moment before moving on.
“Today, we’ll be discussing the school’s code of conduct,” he began. “I’ll go over the most important rules, but it’s expected that you read the full guidelines yourselves.”
Lynn turned her head slightly toward Lior and whispered dryly, “Lior, you should actually do that. Don’t assume everything will work out on its own.”
Lior stared at her, wide-eyed. “How did you know I was thinking that?”
Lynn remained perfectly neutral; eyes fixed on Harren.
“96.7% probability.”
Lior shot an annoyed look at Samuel. “What the hell have you dragged me into, man? What kind of person is this?”
Samuel grinned. “Welcome to Lynn. Cold. Calculated. Absolutely terrifying.”
Lynn, still staring at the instructor, didn’t even blink.
Harren clapped his hands once, and the entire room fell silent, eyes locked on him.
"Good. Before we get into the rules, does anyone know which hero I am—or rather, was, before I decided to spend my time teaching little thunder gremlins like you?" His gaze swept across the room, sharp and dangerous.
Lynn’s hand shot up immediately. A few others hesitated before raising theirs, but Harren called on Lynn without hesitation.
"You are the hero Har-Storm. Your ability allows you to cloak your body in lightning, increasing both speed and strength," she stated in her usual monotone.
Harren nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now another question: who can guess my power level after watching this video?"
A small projector dropped from the ceiling, and a video played.
Har-Storm demolished a group of villains with surgical precision. Every move was calculated, efficient, and ruthless. His speed was relentless, his strikes precise, and his tactical vision unlike anything most had seen.
When the video ended, Lynn’s hand shot up again. Harren called on her.
"Nine," she said confidently.
A murmur spread through the class—most seemed to agree.
Harren let out a loud laugh. "What a flattering number to give me, but you’re completely wrong, Lynn. My power level is a six."
The entire class froze.
Mouths hung open.
They had just watched him move, fight, and dominate like someone far beyond that ranking. But they had been wrong.
Samuel heard the subtle scratch of nails against the desk beside him.
He turned.
Lynn’s jaw was tight, a vein visible in her neck, fingers furiously typing on her tablet.
She was fuming.
And finally, she couldn’t hold it in anymore.
Her hand shot back up.
"But how is that possible, Mr. Harren? The data doesn’t add up. You look much stronger," Lynn said, her jaw tight.
Harren met her gaze with a challenging look. "I’ll explain, Lynn. That—" he pointed at the screen, "—is me as a fully trained hero. After my time at Valcroy Academy. After four years of training, refining my skills, and pushing my limits.
"And that is the promise we make to every student here. We will forge you, like sculptors shaping stone. We will perfect you into heroes capable of things most people can only dream of."
He turned to face the class, his voice steady and firm.
"And that brings us to rule number one of Valcroy Academy: You are allowed to use your powers at all times. However, you must not destroy property, not harm others without their consent, and always use them responsibly."
With that, Harren turned to the board and began writing down more rules.
No duels outside designated training areas – Conflicts are settled in the arena, not in hallways, dorms, or the dining hall.
Teamwork is not optional, it is mandatory – Being a hero isn’t a solo act. You will work together, whether you like it or not.
Hero work starts with discipline – Being on time, attending lessons, and staying physically and mentally sharp are requirements, not suggestions.
Harren set down his marker and continued.
"Alright, now that we’ve covered that, let’s move on to something a bit more fun. We know you’ve got young blood running through your veins, so the school organizes three major parties every year."
His gaze swept across the class as he continued.
"The first is the Partner Party, happening in about three months during Christmas. Your one task? Find a partner. Simple, right?
"Then we have the Night Party, a celebration that lasts all night long.
"And lastly, the End-of-Year Party, to celebrate that you’ve survived another year."
A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes.
"Now listen carefully. All 80 of you." He let the silence stretch.
"You will behave at these parties. Yes, alcohol is served. But if even one of you thinks about getting chaotic…"
His eyes moved slowly over the class, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"Trust me. You do not want to be the one who gets on my bad side."
Samuel grinned at Lior. "This is going to be fun. Wonder how hard they actually party here. Bet there’s a lot of pent-up energy that needs releasing, if you know what I mean." He waggled his eyebrows at both Lior and Lynn.
Lior grinned back. "Oh man, I’m already scouting for a good missus. Might have to ask early—before they actually get to know me…" He turned to Lynn. "Hey Lynn, you’re kinda cute. Wanna go with me?"
For the first time, Lynn said something neither calculated nor logical.
"I’d rather die."
Samuel had to physically stop himself from laughing out loud and drawing Harren’s attention.
Lior crossed his arms, looking genuinely offended. "Jesus, you could’ve just said no."
Samuel was about to refocus on the lesson when something happened that he did not expect.
A hand went up.
Harren turned and called on the student.
And then—
He heard her.
A voice, as beautiful as light itself, filled the room.
Like a violin string plucked at exactly the right moment.
A symphony of sound and emotion.
A shiver ran down Samuel’s spine. His ears rang.
His head snapped to the right.
Raine.
"What if you don’t want to go to the parties?" she asked.
Harren studied her for a moment.
Inside Samuel, everything screamed that the answer had to be you are forced to go.
The parties had to be mandatory.
She had to go.
She had to be there.
He had to see her. Dance with her. Just exist in the same space.
His hands curled into fists. His thoughts spiralled.
Her voice…
She was too much.
Behind him, Lior chuckled and started singing under his breath. "Raine and Samuel, sitting in a tre—"
He didn’t get to finish.
Lynn had already stabbed a pencil into his hand.
Lior yelped in pain, yanking his hand away.
Samuel didn’t notice any of it.
He was still looking at her.
Trying to replay her voice in his mind.
Over and over.
It was like the first warm day of summer.
Like the moment the first leaves began to bloom.
Then, Harren’s booming voice filled the room.
"No, Raine. The parties are not mandatory. If you choose to skip them, you can spend that time however you like."
Something twisted in Samuel’s stomach.
His eyes stayed locked on her.
Why didn’t she want to go?
And then—
Raine turned.
Her gaze found his.
It was like lightning struck through his eyes.
His muscles locked. His breath caught.
She was looking directly at him.
No smile. No nod. No change in her expression.
Just pure, steady observation.
But for Samuel, it was everything.
It didn’t matter how she looked at him.
The only thing that mattered was that she was looking.
A crushing weight spread across his chest, and only then did he realize—
He was holding his breath.
He inhaled sharply, snapping out of the trance, forcing himself to turn away from those emerald eyes.
His entire body screamed at him to look back.
But he couldn’t.
He wouldn’t risk ruining this.
A sharp clap from Harren snapped Samuel out of his thoughts.
"Alright, that’s it for today’s lesson! I’ll see you all after lunch to assign your first-year teams. Until then, you’re free to do as you like."
And with that, the massive man turned and walked off.
Lynn grabbed Samuel by the arm and pulled him toward the exit. "Come on, let’s get lunch. That way, you can think about something else for a while."
Lior followed, snickering under his breath.
<hr>
? Ruben Poelen, 2024. All rights reserved.
This work, Endborn & Dawnborn, including all text, characters, and worldbuilding, is the intellectual property of Ruben Poelen. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in reviews or articles.
Unauthorized use, copying, or distribution of this work is strictly prohibited.