Lex had forgotten his lunchbox. The boy was so careless that he went hungry at times. It was up to his mother to keep him fed and rested. Going to play ball too.
She couldn't allow him to give up.
Even if it was hard, you wouldn't know the warmth of people without experience.
You wouldn't know the happiness of acquintanship with similar people.
All of it came from real experience.
A healthy lifestyle was what lead to productive results. This was her rule.
Something Lex couldn't break.
With that in mind, she walked the futuristic streets of Deanfold City.
A utopia among the similar places.
The smell of hot metals and new cars was in the air. Paint recently applied on them.
A new luxury car must have came out.
For a woman bound to the kitchen a lot of the time, being able to get fresh air was nice. A nice change of pace from the housework and paperwork from taxes.
She looked at the tall buildings surrounding her and their billboards.
Advertisements on every electronic screen. Showing off simply for fun.
It was the city's pride.
The streets were packed with people going left and right. Quite a big crowd.
"No way~ Ain't that our Mama Lindblum I see~? How's that kid Lex doing? I hope he isn't still crying like before." A plump woman with dreadlocks stopped her.
It was her neighbour before they moved.
"We're both doing fine. Thank you, Mrs Dune." Lex's mother automatically said.
Putting on a nice smile for her former friend. Regardless if she like her.
This wasn't a good time to argue.
Moreover, although her words were brazen, she was the woman who helped them the most when moving. After Lex had that test in the past and his failure to live up to his Class, it became real hard.
People called them fakes and tried to break down their small home out of spite.
This was simply how heavy the weight and responsibilities 'Heroes' this era had.
They couldn't be weak, or else the funding to grow them would be wasted.
Thus, the people's extreme reaction.
"Do you wanna waste time? I'm running a coffee shop and know you'd want a taste of it." Mrs Dune pointed at a nearby shop her husband was waiting tables at.
The man smiled when seeing that his wife found a new customer so easily.
Lex's mother, Mrs Lindblum, blushed and felt tempted towards a new experience.
'It should be alright.' She told herself while sitting with woman at the shop.
Despite being a self-employed woman, it looked like Mr Dune didn't mind that his wife was slacking. He enthusiastically welcomed her, a new customer, instead.
"I'll make it for her. Don't worry." Mrs Dune didn't even wait for her to order.
She seemed very familiar.
How much milk and sugar put into the coffee was at a nice ratio she remembered. The only difference was that afterwards, she covered it in whipped cream. Then a top and straw.
"…Is this normal now?" After being handed the hot brew, Mrs Lindblum looked at it strangely. Back in her time, it was more simple and barebone service.
Back then, she would have likely been given her coffee in a regular plastic cup.
"The times have changed… We are living well now." Mrs Dune looked somewhat guilty. She had always shown a penny pincher side. Not much from generosity.
"I'm glad you're doing well." Lex's mother sincerely felt happy for these two.
After all, they were both her benefactors.
"How have things been going? I was worried about what happened after you left. People have chosen to forget, but how could we?" Mrs Dune held her hand.
A look of concern grew on her face.
"I know what you're thinking."
"Do you? Just after you left, some daft kids burnt your house down." These words from Mrs Dune shut her up. This conversation seemed to be long overdo.
They started talking about the past and what had happened since then.
Originally, Mrs Lindblum was supposed to have lived a life of a 'married citizen'.
The reason that fact she married played a big role was thanks to lowered taxes.
Since humanity lived in a world where they were constantly fighting 'Dark Muses', there was more value in parents and children that could grow strong.
A household with a Hero in their family would be taken care of by the city.
Heroes were a valuable resource.
The higher their child's value, the easier time the parents would have raising them.
Even if they had no great talent, those hardworking were rewarded more often.
Lower taxes, higher pay at work, etc.
There were a ton of things to look forward to. Even though this would manifest as an omnipresent pressure on the child in question. It was only natural.
There was nothing they could do.
In this sort of society, Mrs Lindblum had special circumstances thank to Lex.
Her child's talent was abysmal, but there were eyes in the government that had focused on him. Regardless of his current strength, his Class was too special.
It needed more time to be analysed.
For the sake of safety, they upgraded her residence to a nice place with security.
It wasn't that big, but there was a man who had contacted her about her son.
She told them about him.
How back in the past, she was just trying to keep her family together and safe.
Then, she got a phone call from afar…
"Hello, is this Mrs Lindblum?" There was a holographic image of a man projecting.
She couldn't quite see his face, but the voice behind the call seemed whimsical.
A voice full of life.
"Yes?" At that time though, she wasn't aware of who was calling her that day.
When her husband and child were out.
"Thank goodness. It is a pleasure to meet you at last. My name is Celest Vagabond of Faustus City. Yes, the one you're thinking of right this moment." The man on the other side enjoyed her surprise.
And why wouldn't Mrs Lindblum be?
Who didn't know of the 'Hero of the People'? Those that didn't weren't human. There was no way such an iconic and longstanding figure could be missed.
He was someone written in history books.
Celest Vagabond, the man who was at the centre of 'Harmonic Theory', which was the name of the government body that held most cities of Earthland Domain.
Harmonic Theory was both the origin and superpower that held the strongest Heroes. The place Celest was currently living in, Faustus City, was also known.
Not simply for it being the playground of progress, but also thanks to its education system. Every few years a school would rise and fall, but the Heroes within each school Celest founded became stronger.
Not simply out of effort, but because they were given era changing technology.
Allowed access to exquisite techniques.
Such a phone call was actually the hope and dreams of many. It was life altering.
"I-I'm honoured to meet you!" Her voice became a little high pitched momentarily.
She was getting goosebumps.
Believing what she was experiencing was the start of a dream… or a big nightmare.
The answer would be found sooner than expected. A playful voice rang out.
"I've heard your child is a 'Hero'."
"This is a misunderstanding. There must have been an error of some sort." Lex's mother had already suffered a lot of backlash at this point. No more than that.
She'd rather not suffer anymore.
"I understand your predicament. A child with great destiny was born, but he was unfortunately not given the tools to fulfil that destiny." Celest's voice eased her.
Making her feel understood.
"Thank you… I'm sure you have heard many things, but my child is hardworking and kind. He won't slack when given a chance to succeed." She assured.
"I believe that too. In fact, I'm inclined to protect him and give that 'chance' for him to succeed." Celest became an angel in her mind. Giving him a real chance.
Something she took with gratitude.
The man had given her the means and opportunity to get him to a better place.
Once her son graduated St Matha, he would be accepted into a new Academy.
Celest was specifically building it with the intention of empowering Heroes.
From what she was told: New technology has been introduced to improve Heroes.
Simply by attending the Academy, her child would be given many benefits.
There was only one worrying thing here.
'Starshine Academy', as Celest had called it, was a prestigious institution globally.
Meaning most students would only be able to enter after paying an exorbitant fee. Nothing came for free, and Celest funded his 'research' with entry fees.
Because her son awakened the 'Hero' Class, she was told it was a scholarship.
But that wasn't the problem.
After graduation, Lex would likely have to stay amidst very spoiled rich kids.
They may suppress him with their status.
Celest assured her that he would grow up safe, and all Mrs Lindblum could do was agree. There was no way she could decline an offer made by such a figure.
When her friend, Mrs Dune, heard about what happened. All her worries faded.
"So you found fortune in misfortune. Nice going." She tapped their cups together like they were drinking beer. It was a worthy of celebration at this point.
"Not everything's all great. You know how far Faustus City is. Travelling there would be difficult." Mrs Lindblum was well aware that outside the cities was devastation.
"Difficult, but not at all impossible."
"You always have to have the last word with me." A smile formed on her face.
Lex's mother felt like they were the past.
Friends like they were before.
She'd initially expected that things would change, but it seemed nothing changed.
They both were the same as before.
"Hate it? Try arguing with me then."
"And lose?" Mrs Lindblum crossed her arms and tilted her nose at that offer.
No point of fighting a losing battle.
"You used to act like you're all that. Now look at you. Aren't you happy about being able to go there?" Mrs Dune thought it would be pretty sleazy if she disagreed.
Her friend's son was offered a scholarship to go attend the most prestigious Academy. If she still wasn't happy, that was some sort of affliction.
This was an affliction called 'being a worrywart'. Very common among wives.
Mrs Dune understood it.
"You wouldn't understand it. I'm unsure if the legacy handed down by his father would adapt there. It's quite the unique heritage." Mrs Lindblum spoke her heart.
Speaking of her family problems.
"That legacy… I remember you saying your husband could only practice it thanks to you. What did that mean?" A memory arose about an unanswered question. Things that were put aside.
She looked to the side and saw that there were less customers at this busy time.
Many likely got to work.
Mrs Lindblum saw this as an opportunity to confess the truth to her good friend.
"My husband found the legacy of what's called the 'Lazrik Clan' and their Cursed Weapon. We only found partial records of their legacy, and it's too unstable." The truth of the past was revealed casually.
"Cursed-?!"
"SHUSH!" Mrs Lindblum covered her mouth. She didn't want this to be known.
"…'Cursed Weapons' are all dangerous, ya know? Nothing good comes from it." Mrs Dune was annoyed at such careless and reckless actions. It was too risky.
"It won't do anything if we leave it untouched. I tried to get rid of that ominous thing, but you know how responsible my husband is. There was a letter asking 'their inheritor' to guard the blade and never let it be used." Lex's mother started speaking way too fast.
Her friend almost missed the explanation.
"…Do you know why?" Mrs Dune asked the obvious question in this situation.
Why did it need guarding?
"Honestly, I stopped caring or wanting to know. I have a son to take care of." Mrs Lindblum deflected any criticism. It's like… she was already stretched too thin.
One more worry will break her back.
"Alright, then back to your 'Hero' of a son. What the heck did you teach him that's so unstabl-!?" Crackle! Bzzz! The sound of thunder and lightning boomed.
Everyone in the cafe, including them, had ran out to see what the commotion was.
They looked to the electronic billboard on the side of a skyscraper. An electrical malfunction had made the screen shift beteeen full brightness and turned off.
Hurting the eyes of the many onlookers.
"What's that…?" People started to notice that the clouds above were turning gold.
The more they looked, the more it was having clear that this was an 'ability'.
Not simply a magic phenomenon.
The proof was that as soon as the gold clouds appeared, so did a single entity.
The outline of a face and arms started to form in the sky. It raised its arm.
A bright light enveloped the entire city.
Out of sheer instinct, Mrs Lindblum pushed Mr and Mrs Dune into the cafe.
Lightning started to rain down.
"NOOO!!!" A scream left Mrs Dune's mouth when light enveloped her friend.
The last thing she saw was a smile filled with regret on the blue-haired woman's face. She had a lot to live for, and didn't expect her life would be taken so easily.
Lightning coursed through her body, and she didn't even have time to feel pain.
Death came so swiftly…