It took ten insistent knocks on the door to rouse me from the depths of sleep, my mind sluggish as I struggled to shake off the grogginess. With a flicker of awareness, I activated my ability out of reflex, only to quickly extinguish it. The last thing I needed was to inadvertently cause damage or harm someone in my drowsy state.
Dragging myself out of bed, I made my way to the door, irritation brewing beneath the surface. "What the fuck do you want in the middle of the night?" I snapped, throwing open the door to find Mister Glasses standing there, an infuriating smile plastered on his face as he held out a bag.
"You've been accepted into the Elite class," he announced cheerfully, thrusting the bag towards me. "Here's everything you'll need."
I eyed him with disdain, my annoyance palpable. "This could have waited until morning," I grumbled, snatching the bag from his grasp and peering inside. "Just some clothing?"
"Those clothes are your school uniforms," he explained patiently, his tone irritatingly chipper. "As a student here, you'll need to dress the part."
"Fuck you," I muttered under my breath, tossing the clothing onto Pluto's desk in a fit of frustration.
"If you insist," Mister Glasses replied, his tone light, clearly enjoying getting under my skin.
Fury bubbling within me, I activated my ability, a surge of power coursing through me. "Continue acting like that, and ain't no one going to find your body," I threatened, my words laced with venom.
He raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry for ruining your precious sleep," he conceded, his smile faltering slightly. "But classes start at 7:20, and breakfast opens up at 6:30."
With a curt nod, I slammed the door shut, cutting off any further conversation. Crawling back into bed, I couldn't shake the feeling of irritation that lingered within me. I didn't have any real purpose at this school, but at least being here allowed me to keep an eye on Noah.
…
Standing outside the classroom, I could sense the weight of curious gazes boring into me, their scrutiny palpable as I hesitated before entering. Pluto stood beside me, a reassuring presence amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces. With a deep breath, I pushed open the door, the soft creak echoing in the hushed atmosphere.
As I stepped into the room, I felt the intensity of the stares intensify, the whispers of conversation dying down as all eyes turned towards me. I met Pluto's gaze briefly, silently seeking guidance amidst the unfamiliarity of the situation, before addressing him.
"Where is your seat?" I inquired, my voice low but steady despite the nervous fluttering in my chest.
Pluto seemed momentarily caught off guard by my question, but quickly composed himself, pointing towards a vacant seat near the window. Following his indication, I made my way over to the designated spot, acutely aware of the lingering gazes that followed my every move. Pluto settled into the seat beside me, his presence offering a measure of comfort amidst the tension.
The layout of the classroom was standard, with rows of desks neatly arranged in pairs, each connected to its neighboring counterpart to facilitate collaboration between deskmates. Taking my seat, I couldn't shake the feeling of scrutiny that seemed to linger in the air, the weight of expectation pressing down on my shoulders.
"What do we learn here?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued by the prospect of delving into the curriculum of this unique institution. It was clear that this wasn't just a typical school—here, amidst the ordinary trappings of education, lay the extraordinary potential of individuals with abilities beyond the ordinary.
...
Heroes POV
Noah's gaze remained fixed on Abaddon, his expression a mixture of resentment and apprehension as Pluto attempted to explain the dynamics of their new learning environment. The thought of spending the next four years alongside someone who had defeated him not once, but twice, left a bitter taste in Noah's mouth, and he could sense a similar sentiment resonating among his friends.
"I can't believe that we have to spend the next four years with this guy," Cole groaned, his frustration palpable.
"We don't know if he's really a bad guy," Zane interjected, his tone more measured. "He was asked to fight Noah, and he did what was asked of him."
"He did kill everyone at a prison and tried to kill us," Jay pointed out, his voice tinged with skepticism. "So we can assume that he's an evil person."
Their conversation was interrupted by the unwelcome intrusion of Josh, a burly figure known for his antagonistic behavior. Ignoring the warnings implicit in Abaddon's stoic demeanor, Josh approached with a confrontational air.
"Look at this, the two freaks are sticking together!" Josh barked, his taunting tone laced with malice. "What are you planning, attacking the school?"
Abaddon remained unruffled, retrieving a seemingly innocuous nail clipper from his pocket. The innocuous object belied the threat it posed, and a shiver of unease rippled through the room as Abaddon brandished it with chilling nonchalance.
"What are you going to do with something like that?" Josh scoffed. "Are you going to pluck out my eyes?"
"A nail clipper isn't a conventional weapon," Abaddon replied, his voice as cold as ice. "But believe me, you'll be crying for your mother when I'm done with you."
Before Josh could react, his face was slashed open, a thin trickle of blood staining the metal of the nail clipper. His agonized screams filled the room, sending a wave of horror through his classmates as they recoiled in shock.
"Does it hurt?" Abaddon's voice cut through the chaos, his words carrying an eerie calmness. "Stop being dramatic—it's only a tiny cut."
The atmosphere grew tense as Abaddon raised the nail clipper menacingly, his intentions clear. But before he could inflict further harm, Noah intervened, his voice trembling with urgency as he attempted to reason with the volatile newcomer.
"Stop, you're taking this too far," Noah implored, his tone laced with a mix of fear and desperation. "Sure, Josh is a jerk, but you don't have to destroy his entire face."
Abaddon's expression contorted with frustration and rage, his composure slipping as he recoiled from Noah's touch.
"How dare you touch me," he hissed, his voice dripping with venom.
Noah felt a surge of fear grip him as Abaddon's wrath seemed to intensify, the air crackling with an ominous energy. Objects began to levitate around the classroom, sharp edges gleaming menacingly as they hovered threateningly over the students.
"Abaddon, stop!" Pluto intervened, his voice urgent as he attempted to defuse the escalating tension. "They didn't mean any harm—they were just trying to prevent a classmate from getting hurt!"
Abaddon's rage seemed to dissipate at Pluto's words, and the floating objects clattered to the ground as he stormed out of the room, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.
Pluto cast a reproachful glance at Noah before hurrying after Abaddon, leaving the rest of the class to grapple with the aftermath of the confrontation.
"You should have left Josh for that beast," Jay complained, his voice tinged with frustration. "You almost killed us all!"
Noah regarded Jay with a mixture of disbelief and indignation. "Are you suggesting we should have allowed Josh to be harmed?"
"We're not saying that," Zane interjected, his tone measured. "But perhaps seeking help from a teacher would have been a more prudent course of action."
"Why was he so enraged about you touching him?" Kai pondered aloud as he helped tidy up the classroom. "He almost lost it on us."
"That's something I don't know," Noah admitted, his mind reeling with unanswered questions. "But it's clear he's not someone to be underestimated."
…
Lloyd POV
The rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins threatened to overwhelm me as I hurriedly navigated the corridors of the school, my mind consumed by a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions. I didn't know where I was heading, only that I needed to distance myself from the classroom before my volatile abilities wreaked havoc upon the school.
My frantic pace abruptly came to a halt as I collided with someone, the impact jolting me back to reality with startling force.
"Watch where you're going, young student," admonished a familiar voice—the voice of the woman I harbored deep-seated resentment towards, my biological mother, Misako.
My eyes widened in disbelief as I gazed at her incredulously. When had she started working at this school? The sight of her ignited a fierce fury within me, threatening to consume me in a blaze of unchecked rage. I could feel the urge to unleash my abilities, to exact vengeance upon her for the years of abandonment and neglect. But before I could act upon my impulses, Pluto intervened, his presence a grounding force amidst the chaos swirling within my mind.
"Abaddon, there you are," Pluto exclaimed, coming to my aid and helping me to my feet. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I muttered, my gaze fixed upon my mother. "I apologize for bumping into you."
With a curt nod, I turned on my heel and began to stride purposefully back towards the classroom, Pluto following closely behind.
"What happened back there?" Pluto inquired, concern etched into his features. "I appreciate you standing up for me, but you kinda took it too far."
"I... I kinda lost control," I admitted, my voice tinged with a hint of remorse. I rubbed my wrist absently, a physical manifestation of the turmoil raging within me. "It won't happen again. Besides, no one is going to harass you after this."
As we walked, I wrestled with my inner demons, the memories of my fraught relationship with my mother threatening to engulf me in a maelstrom of bitterness and resentment. I knew I needed to find a way to exorcise the demons of my past, to rid myself of the toxic influence she still held over me. But for now, I would focus on keeping my abilities in check and navigating the treacherous waters of my new life at the Elemental Alliance Academy.
…
Flashback
I can still recall that fateful day as if it were etched into the very fabric of my being, a memory that refuses to fade with the passing of time. There I stood, a mere 12-year-old boy, in front of the house that held the woman who had brought me into this world—a woman I had never truly known. It was the same house that stared back at me from the faded photograph clutched tightly in my trembling hands, a relic of a past shrouded in mystery and unanswered questions.
With each step closer to the door, my heart pounded in my chest like a relentless drumbeat, the weight of anticipation bearing down upon me like an oppressive burden. I hesitated for a moment before summoning the courage to knock, my knuckles rapping against the wood in a tentative rhythm.
Silence greeted me at first, stretching out like an endless abyss before I dared to glance through the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the woman who had long eluded me. Behind the thin veil of the curtain, I discerned movement—a flicker of movement that hinted at life within.
Footsteps approached from within, drawing nearer with each passing moment until the door swung open, revealing her—my mother. Time had etched its mark upon her features, yet there was no mistaking the resemblance to the woman in the photograph.
"Hi, you may not believe me, but I am your son, Lloyd Garmadon," I stammered, my voice betraying the nervousness that gripped me. I extended the photograph towards her, a silent plea etched in my gaze. "I don't understand why you left me, but we can be together now."
She regarded the photograph with a detached air before returning it to my outstretched hand. "I'm afraid that is not an option for us," she replied, her tone devoid of warmth or remorse.
Confusion and hurt welled up inside me, threatening to suffocate me beneath their weight. "What do you mean?" I demanded, the words catching in my throat. "I don't understand."
Suddenly, a boy emerged from the shadows—a boy who bore a striking resemblance to me, yet with eyes that gleamed with an otherworldly golden hue. Recognition dawned upon me in an instant, realization crashing over me like a tidal wave.
"He is a nobody," she dismissed him with a wave of her hand, her words like a dagger to my heart. "Go back inside and continue your training. Your father will return, and you must be ready to show him what you have learned."
With a sense of finality, she slammed the door shut, leaving me standing there, utterly dumbfounded and alone. The truth hung heavy in the air, a bitter pill to swallow—the woman who had brought me into this world had no desire to acknowledge me as her son.
As I retraced my steps, grappling with the raw emotions churning within me, a voice shattered the silence, pulling me from the depths of my despair.
"Hey, wait up," came the voice of the blonde boy, the one who shared my likeness. Ignoring his pleas, I continued on, my mind consumed by a tempest of conflicting emotions.
But his hand closed around my wrist, halting me in my tracks. "I don't know why you look like me, but please leave my mother alone," he implored, his eyes brimming with determination. "If she left you behind, there must have been a good reason."
I recoiled at his words, my blood boiling with indignation. "What reason could possibly justify abandoning your own child?" I retorted, my voice laced with bitterness and resentment.
But before I could utter another word, his relentless persistence pushed me over the edge. A surge of darkness enveloped me, my hand tinged with an ominous blackish-purple hue as my pent-up anger erupted into a violent storm.
The explosion that followed was deafening, the force of it knocking us both off our feet. For a moment, we were frozen in shock, staring at the wreckage that lay before us—a stark reminder of the havoc wrought by my uncontrollable abilities.
As the dust settled, I cast a disdainful glance at the boy, his tear-stained cheeks a testament to the devastation wrought by my actions. "It seems our mother is gone," I remarked coldly, my heart devoid of remorse. "Karma is indeed a bitch."
Anguish and rage contorted his features as he lunged towards me, his fists clenched in a futile attempt to exact vengeance. But I merely shrugged him off, a sense of detachment settling over me like a shroud.
"You call yourself a hero?" I scoffed, my voice dripping with contempt. "Then I suppose that makes me the villain. But mark my words, someday you will rise above your petty grievances, and I hope you stay there."
With that final taunt, I turned my back on him, leaving him alone amidst the ruins of our shattered family. As I walked away, the weight of my troubled past pressed heavily upon my shoulders, yet amidst the chaos and destruction, I found a glimmer of solace—a newfound freedom born from the ashes of my turbulent past.
…
Lloyd POV
As I stepped into the classroom, a hushed silence fell over the students, their eyes widening with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. It was evident that news of the earlier incident had spread like wildfire, casting a shadow of fear over my arrival. Despite the uneasy atmosphere, I plastered a calm smile on my face, determined not to let my inner turmoil show.
"Apologies for my tardiness on the first day," I addressed the teacher, offering a polite nod. My gaze lingered on the empty seat that belonged to Josh, a stark reminder of the chaos I had caused earlier. "There was a slight... incident that delayed me."
The teacher, a woman draped in a colorful hijab, regarded me with a stern expression. Her name, as she introduced herself, was Ms. Asiya, and her no-nonsense demeanor made it clear that she brooked no disobedience.
"I won't tolerate such disruptions in my classroom," she admonished, her voice tinged with authority. "Consider this a warning."
I nodded in understanding, making my way to an empty desk and sinking into the seat with a heavy sigh. My mind was still reeling from the events of the morning, grappling with the consequences of my actions. The realization that I had unintentionally triggered my ability filled me with a profound sense of unease. Was this the path I was destined to walk—to wield my powers as a weapon of destruction?
As the lesson began, I found it difficult to focus, my thoughts drifting back to the encounter with Noah and the revelation of his connection to me. It was a sobering reminder of the tangled web of fate that bound us together, his quest for vengeance driving him to greater heights of strength and determination.
But for me, the prospect of growth and empowerment within the confines of this school held little appeal. I had no desire to hone my abilities or embrace the role of a hero. My only goal was to navigate this new environment without drawing further attention to myself, to fade into the background and simply exist.
With a heavy heart and a troubled mind, I resigned myself to the monotony of the classroom, knowing that the challenges ahead would test me in ways I could scarcely imagine.