Luminary Institute

27: A Hope To Be Introduced As A Partner One Day

Letting Accelerator down, Slade grabbed a microphone from a nearby staff member. “I apologize, I just realized that making a dome of rock around the battle doesn’t make for a super great showmatch...” 

Using one arm to hug Accelerator, Slade talked while tapping the ground with his foot to use his powers. His powers, causing faint rumbles to echo through the stadium, helped the various staff members repair the pitch. Bowing with Accelerator, Slade walked them to the side of the stage before calling over the next two combatants. 

Getting called over by Slade, the one Nyssa had identified as the Moon’s Apostle Lady something or another and Mr. Bulked Up like Kaiser hair dude walked to the center of the stage. Standing in the center with Slade between them, the two of them waved to the audience and gave a few choice words to the students before taking their positions. 

Sitting back, Nyssa just enjoyed the rest of the show matches while making some light conversation with Celeste. There wasn’t too much to see. Or, well, there was a lot to see? But not a lot at the same time... 

Each battle was filled to the brim with real life visual effects. They were all... beautiful. A huge spider-like hair mech, a blackened atmosphere where a moon shone through, and bright projections, copies of the body streaming down the battlefield. In terms of substance though, there wasn’t too much. It was clear no party was going at one-hundred percent and each battle ended within a minute or so.

‘Aesthetically pleasing’ was pleasing nonetheless though. Grabbing a morning snack from a passing snack cart, Nyssa enjoyed herself as the battles came to a close. 

“Anddd, we’re into break,” Slade chuckled while walking across the again-ruined stage, “Feel free to come down from the bleachers. We’ll reconvene in about fifteen minutes to start some one versus one matches.” 

Pausing before handing off the microphone, Slade pulled it back. “Don’t rush us, though, please, we’re human just like you all.” 

Giving the microphone back to the staff member, Slade smiled and waved to the students while walking towards the bleachers. Meeting up with Kaiser, he walked along with him towards the Class Zero bleachers. “What do you think so far dad? Any thoughts?” 

“I think you’re doing quite well,” Kaiser nodded while patting Slade on the back, “Planning on catching up with Nyssa?” 

“Nah, I don’t want to expose her and force her into an awkward spot. I’m about to get mobbed anyway,” Slade laughed while nodding his head towards the students rushing towards him. “I’ll just catch up a little with Angelica.” 

“That sounds good, I’ll leave you to it,” Kaiser chuckled before walking off with a wave. “I’m going to go check up on your friends, I’m sure they’re surrounded by students by now.” 

“For sure,” Slade laughed while jogging off towards Angelica. Getting to her before the students could get to him, he gave her a handshake hug before sitting down next to her. “How are you doing? Long time no see!” 

“Indeed,” Angelica smiled while watching the students rush forward. “It’s quite a pleasure teaching your, and, well, Roxanne’s, younger sister. She has quite the different demeanor from you two though.” 

“Of course! I haven’t seen someone sleep as much as her in all my life! She’s quite content just having a bed, a nice life to live in all honesty,” Slade sighed. Shaking his head with an exasperated sigh, he drummed his fingers against his legs while making some idle conversation. 

Getting swarmed after a minute or so, Slade apologized to Angelica before beginning to field some questions from the students. 

Nyssa, sitting halfway up the bleachers directly behind Slade, just leaned back and kicked her legs up. Half-concealing her face behind Celeste’s, she put on a nonchalant expression. “I don’t know who that is... mhm. Who’s that?” 

“You don’t know him, hmm~?” Celeste teased while poking Nyssa on the nose. “I understand though. I won’t expose you. Though, I’m sure some of the more eagle-eyed observers down there will wonder who’s the new girl sitting with the Class Zero students.” 

“Yeah, but like... you know... you all are quite low-key too, aren’t you?” Nyssa murmured with a quiet cough. 

“They, for sure, know us though. Don’t you know who we are? We’re practically half celebrities in the school. Considering there are cold streaks where there are years with no new Class Zero students. Right now you and I are the tail end of a hot streak. It’s the most Class Zero students in like... a decade or something.” 

“Boohoo...” Nyssa shook her head before letting out a faint yelp in surprise as Albion, Titus, and Conrad plopped down next to them. The bleachers screamed in pain due to their ‘aggressive’ impact onto the bleachers, but, to Nyssa’s relief, only a couple people took a half-glance up to where they were sitting. 

“Damn, there’s a lot of swarming going on...” Titus sighed as he opened up the conversation to everyone. “I was planning on going down and trying to talk to some of them, but it seems like they’re really being mobbed.” 

Mobbed they were... Nyssa felt like there had to be at least thirty people around each of the heroes... 

“Are you two planning on going to see people?” Conrad raised his eyebrows towards Nyssa and Celeste. “I assume you’re not Nyssa.” 

“I’ll go if Celeste goes,” Nyssa shrugged, “If you have any specific questions for Slade, though, or maybe even the others, you can pass them to me. I can ask for you later tonight at dinner.” 

“Are they going to your house for dinner?” Albion shook his head with an exasperated sigh of his own. “The connections are unreal... I think the main thing people are really chasing are just like... getting some face recognition with these people in the industry? But I don’t know how much it matters.” 

“I’m bad with faces so it wouldn’t help with me at all,” Nyssa nodded before getting pulled backward by Celeste. 

“There’s no way you’re just so confident in that,” Celeste laughed while hugging Nyssa. “If you become a hero you, for sure, are never going out in public without a secretary or something at least.” 

“Yeah, that’s true...” Nyssa shook her head. “We should probably not just sit here though.” 

“Probably not indeed,” Albion agreed while pushing himself onto his feet. “Let’s stretch. I want to talk to a couple people.” 

Everyone, as Albion made his way down the bleachers, followed along. Titus, slinging an arm over Albion’s shoulder, nudged him in the side. “Who are you thinking of talking to?” 

Nyssa, over hearing the question, looked towards Celeste as Albion answered. “What about you? Who do you want to see?” 

“I don’t know...” Celeste murmured while her steps slowed. “Maybe Slade? I’d like to meet him formally. Preparation for when I, hopefully, end up meeting him informally.” 

“Meet him informally?” Nyssa tilted her head. “What do you mean by that...” 

“Don’t worry about it,” Celeste chuckled. “It’s just me making jokes to myself.” 

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