EIGHT YEARS AGO...

JUNE 24th, 2090.

(NOVA'S POV)

I jolt up from my sleep when I hear a door slam, then my father's voice.

He's yelling.

I hear my mom's panicked voice arguing back, sneaking over to my bedroom door which I slip open a crack.

I watch them through it, eyes wide.

"You can't send her there! That...that's dangerous!"

My father scoffs.

"We were both heroes once as well. She needs to!"

"She could die out there, Oliver! I don't want to let her go!"

He sighs.

"Nova's strong. She'll probably end up getting one of the elements. Then she can save the world. Don't you want her to be remembered?!"

"Ten years we have to leave her in that training. Ten! And we don't get to see or talk to her."

My dad glares at my mom.

"I'm taking her, Tiffany, and if you're coming to say goodbye or not doesn't matter to me."

I scramble back into my bed when I hear him coming, shutting my eyes tightly.

The door creaks open, and my father runs my back gently.

"Nova? Wake up, sweetie."

My eyes flutter open, and I look at him.

"Yes, daddy?"

He smiles.

"We have to go somewhere. Get dressed and pack a bag, alright? Then meet me and your mother in the living room."

"Oh...umm...okay."

I stand up as he leaves the room, frowning.

Where is he planning to bring me?

I get dressed, shoving some of my things into my bag before walking into the living room, seeing my mother sobbing on the couch.

"Mommy, what's wrong?"

"Oh my baby!"

She hugs me tightly and I hug her back, feeling her tears hit my cheeks as she kisses me.

"I love you, so much, Nova. Never forget that."

"I—I love you too, mommy."

My dad gently takes my hand, smiling sadly.

"Come, sweetie. Tiffany, are you coming?"

My mom looks up, nodding slowly.

"I'll go."

She stands up, wiping her tears before following us out the door.

********

My dad drives us two hours down a long road in the middle of nowhere, until we approach a large mansion like area with a cool looking sign.

Bridora, Academy of Enchantments.

Bridora, huh?

I stare at it as we drive into the place, parking.

We all get out of the car, and I see a young woman come down towards me.

"Ah, the Birch family! This must be Nova."

She looks down at me, pink eyes shimmering.

"You're going to make a lot of friends here, sweets. Don't be nervous! How old are you?"

"I...I'm ten."

She smiles.

"A baby. She'll be great."

I look at her, then my parents.

"What is this place? What's happening?"

She rubs my back gently.

"I thought they'd have told you...but this is a school for heroes, Nova. You're coming here to be one. We assign you a power when you're eighteen, and then you're allowed to go into the real world and fight crime when you're nineteen or twenty, depending on your skill. For the eight years leading up to that we train you for what's ahead, in multiple subjects. As well as educational purposes like school. You'll be able to stay in a dorm with four other girls, and there will be a separate dorm hall for each gender."

My eyebrows furrow, and I stare up at my mom.

"Mommy, I don't want to. Please don't make me go!"

My mom looks like she's about to burst out crying, and my dad sighs.

"You'll be fine, honey."

"Will i at least be able to see you guys?"

The woman takes my hand, guiding me backwards.

"Once a year. You have to learn to not be around them. Every year at Christmas students are allowed to leave and visit. You cannot get distracted from your studies."

Tears well up in my eyes as I try and reach out for my mom and dad.

"Please, mommy! Daddy! Don't—don't leave!"

"We love you, Nova. We love you so much. We'll see you in a few months for Christmas."

I start sobbing as they leave, and the woman pulls me inside.

"I don't want to, I don't want to!"

She frowns, rubbing my back.

"You'll be fine, Nova. I promise. My name is Lula, okay? I'll be with you the whole way. I just graduated last year, so I'm now a mentor. You will have breakfast at six, school from eight to two, lunch between that, training from three to four, shower break at 4:30, study hour at five, dinner at 6:30, and lights out at nine. You're roommates will explain more. Here, come with me."

I follow Lula down a hall lined with wooden doors, and to one at the end of the hall.

"This is your room right here...I'll come back in an hour and a half. Will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine."

"Okay, Nova. See you soon."

She waves before rounding a corner, and when I reach my hand out to knock on the door when it flies open, four girls staring at me excitedly.

"Hi!"

I jump slightly, waving awkwardly.

"Oh...hi."

"Come!"

One of them drags me in, shutting the door.

The room is bright and colorful, way more lively than the rest of the academy.

They point to a bed, bright yellow and decorated with pretty flowers.

"We picked those from the garden for you!"

"I snuck you a cookie!"

A girl with golden blonde hair grins, handing me a chocolate chip cookie.

"Thank you!"

"No problem! We decorated your side of the room for you...do you like it? Sorry if it's hideous."

I shake my head rapidly.

"No, no! I love it! It's really pretty..." I walk over to the bed, dropping my bag down before picking up a flower. "Are these—"

A red haired girl smiles.

"Daffodils? Yeah!"

"You're Nova, right? Your name's really pretty."

"Oh thank you!"

She nods, and they all smile.

The blue haired girl looks at me.

"I'm Hudson."

The red head grins.

"Archer."

The blonde nods at me in greeting.

"Holiday."

A brunette smiles.

"Kiersten."

I nod.

"Nova. I'm sure you guys know that by now. How long have you been here?"

"We all met when we first came around three years ago."

I sigh.

"Is it bad?"

"Bad? No. Boring? A million times yes."

**********

PRESENT DAY...

OCTOBER 12th, 2098.

(NOVA'S POV)

What a coincidence.

My eighteenth birthday happens to be right on the day of power assigning.

Am I excited? Somewhat.

I just really hope I don't get some stupid shit like lasers.

I would want darkness, or one of the elements...but I assume darkness will be assigned to Arden.

The guy's totally creepy...and mysterious. He seems like a guy fit to have shadow powers.

Or perhaps electricity...

I get jolted out of my thoughts when I hear a familiar voice over the loud speaker.

"Hello, students! Guess what time it is?! Power assigning! I assume you're all very excited...but we can't have you all coming out at once. That'd be chaotic. So, we'll have the ladies in the west wing come down to the auditorium first. Then the boys from the east wing. Watch out for your group! And sir at your assigned tables! Don't make me embarrass you. I repeat: ladies in the west wing file out first! Good luck everyone and I'll see you at the assembly! Lula out!"

The speaker turns off and I stand up, looking at Archer, Hudson, Holiday, and Kiersten.

"You guys ready?"

"Born ready!" Archer grins. "What power do you think I'm going to get?"

Kiersten gives her a sideways glance.

"Fire. Or lasers. Something about your red hair is throwing me off."

Archer snorts and we all smile at each other.

"No way to know unless we go! Come on, girls!"

We all exit the room, following the rest of the west wing girls down the stairs and to the auditorium, where Lula, Hunter, and Madam Olivier stand.

Hunter, our main trainer, Lula, our psychic genius friend, and Madam Olivier, our instructor and principal of the Bridora Academy.

We go over to the area assigned West Wing, sitting at our assigned spots.

I sit at the chair with the plaque: BIRCH, and Holiday sits next to me.

Luckily her last name also starts with a B.

She looks at me from the corner of her eye, grinning.

"I'm so excited!"

"I am too! We'll finally see what hero we're meant to be!"

After fifteen minutes every student is piled into their spot, and just now I realize how many people there actually are.

Lula approaches the microphone, tapping on it.

"Okay, we're good. Hello, students, staff, and anyone attending this ceremony! As we know, today is the good day you all get to know your super powers! I hope your excited...because I am too! Me, Lula, Madam Olivier, and Hunter picked these powers out especially for you, due to your performance, power, and personal strengths. Who's ready?"

We all cheer, and she smiles.

"We're going in alphabetical order...so first we have...Archer Agnes!"

Archer stands up, and me and my friends cheer as she goes up to the podium, smiling.

Lula tears open an envelope, smiling at her.

"Oh! You're a lucky one! Archer you're part of the elements! Earth!"

She gasps slightly, before grinning.

Archer leans over to the microphone, smiling.

"Well...we all thought I was gonna get fire or lasers due to my fiery self...but—earth is actually really cool! I can't wait to control rocks and shit. Thanks you guys!"

She takes the swirling green potion from Lula, nodding.

Oh, and did I mention you have to drink a potion then wait two hours to actually get your powers?

Archer sits down a few seats away from us, smiling broadly.

"Go Archie!"

She laughs at Holiday.

"Thanks, Hols."

********

After ten more kids it's my turn.

My heart thumps rapidly in my chest as I approach the podium, smiling at Lula.

"Hello, Nova! My favorite little star! You ready?"

"Yeah!"

She smiles, pulling open the envelope.

Her eyes scan the words, before she leans back into the microphone.

"This is cool! Nova here has speed!"

She hands me the yellow potion, and I smile.

"Thank you guys so much! I'm honored."

I walk off the stage as everyone claps, sitting down next to Holiday.

What the fuck?!

Speed?!

That's literally the worst!

I sigh, staring at Holiday blankly.

"I hate speed."

She frowns.

"I'm sorry. I got telekinesis?"

"Which is so much better! I mean...I'm thankful I get something...but speed is shit. What am I supposed to do? Just run away? Ew!"

Holiday laughs slightly, rubbing my arm.

"You'll grow to like it. It's not everyday you get to be a superhero!"

"True..."

*********

12:57 AM.

This is damn torture.

It's only been four hours, and now I'm laying flat in bed.

I keep jerking and twitching because I feel like I have to move and run around every five seconds.

I hate it.

I hate it so much.

I gotta go.

I stand up, semi walking and semi running towards the door of our room, sliding through it.

Thank goodness they disabled the cameras, if I were to get caught I'd have detention for at least two weeks straight.

I sneak down the hallway then down the stairs, reaching for the front door handle.

I push it down, and thankfully it pushes right open without any trouble.

I walk outside, or at least try to walk outside, basically speeding down the sidewalk.

This place has evolved.

The usually plain fields are now full of buildings, and the mini city surrounds this school in a sort of wall.

I run towards the gate, watching the bright lights, and the stars dance across the dark night sky.

So nice out here.

I jump when I hear a sonic boom, throwing my hands over my ears and looking up to see ashes and fire raining down from the sky.

What the...?

My eyes widen when I begin to hear screams.

What if they're in danger?!

I back away a few steps, running forward before jumping, throwing myself over the fence.

I speed towards the city, smiling to myself.

These stupid ass powers come in handy at one point.

I run into the place, dodging falling concrete and glass.

I grab a woman off the floor before she can be crushed, dropping her off somewhere else.

She looks at me wide eyed, letting out a scream.

"A HERO!"

"What?!"

I go still as a rock when I hear running footsteps, and feel the heat of flames.

"Oh no."

I get thrown into a store window, flying through the now broken glass.

I land with a thump in the far corner, a bright light clouding my vision.

I shield my eyes against it, feeling the heat of someone above me.

I go limp when someone's hands press against the side of my face, hearing a light snicker.

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

*******

I wake up, hearing a smooth voice echo in my head.

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

Screaming.

"A HERO!"

What the hell happened?!

I swear under my breath.

Darn speed powers.

And stupid woman I mean jeez! Could've been less obvious?!

Now where am I?! Madam Olivier is going to fucking kill me!

"She won't kill you if she knew who you were with, darling."

I snap my head in a different direction, squinting to see the person.

He's tossing something up and down in his hand.

Is that—

I snap my hand up to my neck, grabbing for it.

"Wait—give that back!"

"This necklace? Last time I checked you hated your power."

You are given a necklace with a gem that contains all the power, and as long as you wear it you have them.

I squint to see his neck, with a necklace filled of multiple colored gems.

He has multiple super powers.

He steals them from other heroes.

"Give that back! Who are you?!"

"Oh really? You don't know who I am? I'm so sad."

He comes out from the shadows, and all negative thoughts get flushed out.

Holy hell does he have a nice smile.

Gold and brown eyes, deep, midnight blue hair, and a smile that leaves a damn stain in your head.

"My name is Azurecide. But since you're special, sweetheart, you can call me Xan. You're staring. Liking what you see?"

I shake my head slightly, grabbing the collar of his shirt.

He doesn't move, only grins wider when I tug him closer.

"Give that necklace back before you regret it."

He twirls it around in his other hand, raising an eyebrow.

"What're you going to do?"

"I'll—Ugh!"

His iron grip finds my wrist, twisting it until I let go of him with a yelp.

"I'm a supervillain, and what're you? A student at that damn school with speed powers?"

"Well...yeah! But no one cares about the damn speed powers! I hate them!"

"Really? I'd love to help you get new powers."

My curious eyes find his.

"Really?"

He nods with a smirk, lifting my chin to look up at him.

"Yes...you just have to join me on the dark side, darling."