A Man Who Loves His God and Family: Chapter 2 – A Hero in Training

Chapter 2 – A Hero in Training

Now that I’m eighteen, graduated from high school, and passed the first hero tests, I’ve been accepted into a hero academy. Today is my last day before I leave, and to celebrate, my parents are taking me to town, and we visit my favorite places. We eat at our local diner for breakfast, say goodbye to friends, go fishing in the local river, visit the local amusement park for lunch, and then head to the barcade for games and dinner. At the end, we eat ice cream and look at the starry night sky.

“I’ll never forget today or the other days we’ve spent together,” I say to my parents.

My mom laughs and says, “I’m glad to hear you’ve enjoyed today.”

“We could’ve spent the entire day in front of the TV watching shows and movies, and I would’ve enjoyed it all the same. All I really wanted to do was spend time with you both.”

“This had to be a standout day, so we had to do more than simply spend time with one another,” my dad says. “Remember, don’t sell out to anyone when you're a hero, and only be faithful to God.”

“I’ll remember!” I give my parents a hug and a kiss. “I’ll also call you every day and be sure to visit when I can.”

My parents tell me they love me, and we go back inside our house to rest for the night. My sister taps at my window, and I immediately get up to hear what she has to say.

“John, even though I’m glad you got what you wanted, your life will only get harder from here. I won’t be able to see you while you’re at the hero academy until you take your vacations or graduate,” she says.

“Did the general tell you that you can’t?” I ask.

“Yes, and I agree with him on this. There’s no point in my seeing you at school. You’re a young man now, and we’ll just see each other later.”

“Can I ask you to do a few things before you go?”

“Like what? I can’t do much for you.”

“First, can I see your face? I’ve never seen it and I’d like to.”

“I told you before that there’s no point.”

“If it doesn’t matter, then there’s no harm in showing me.”

My sister takes a few seconds to think before taking her hood off and showing me her face for the first time. She has short, greyish, white hair. One of her eyes is grey and gold, while the other is black, white, and red, and she wears some kind of golden armor around the lower part of her face and neck.

“See? There wasn’t a point to it.”

I can tell something was done to her to make her look this way, and she’s ashamed of it because she isn’t looking me in the eyes. The sight of her being sad is enough to grab the window ledge and crack it.

“John?”

Wanting to put a smile on her face, I pick my sister up and take her to the spot where my parents and I look at the stars.

“Trust me, it’ll be nice!” I say to her along the way.

“Let me go! There’s no point to it. It won’t do anything for me,” she says.

“You’ll see.” I set her down on the spot that we frequent on a hill. “Just lie down, relax, and look at the stars.”

My sister sighs and reluctantly does what I say. After a few minutes of watching, I ask her if she likes it.

“It’s…calming,” she admits.

“Can I ask you your name?”

“Since you keep prying about everything, it’s Idelle. My name is Idelle.”

“What’s your last name?”

“My first name is all you’re getting, and I don’t care for my last name. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have one.”

“You can have mine.”

“Huh?”

“You’re full name is now Idelle Elio, and you are a member of my family.”

“That’s not how it works. You can’t just tell a person you’re a part of their family, and have it be true.”

“Well, it is. You’re basically my sister.”

“I said to stop calling me that.”

“But you do everything a sister does. You give me advice, make me laugh, protect me, and are there when I need you, and I love you for it,” I say while hugging her and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

She wants to argue with me, but holds back her tears instead, and then says, “Am I really that to you?”

“Yes, you are and more! Now, stop being sad all the time and let me see you smile. I hate seeing you upset, and I promise that this is my last request.”

My sister gives her best attempt at a smile.

“Is this good enough? I don’t think I can remember the last time I smiled.”

“It’s great! Just remember to do that and that God will make everything right in the end, and you’ll always be happy, or at least joyful. It’s my secret to a constantly positive attitude.”

“I’ll try.”

“Oh, and if you ever need a home to stay in, you can ask my parents, and I’m sure they’ll let you stay with them if you mention knowing me. Remember, their names are Johnson and Josephine Elio, and they’re the best parents ever.”

“Best parents…huh…”

“Hey, when I become a hero, I’ll make sure to be one that will make everyone smile, including you. I’ll be who God made me to be and become a man who protects the innocent and brings the guilty to justice.”

“Hahaha! If you say so.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“I…I believe you’ll try your best.”

“But do you think I’ll succeed? I made you smile and laugh after all.”

“You did, so I think…you’ll succeed.”

“Yay! Thanks so much, big sis! I’ll never let you or anyone else down!” I say while giving Idelle a big hug.

Our nice little time together was a great way to end the night. Tomorrow morning, I have my favorite breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast with orange juice before being driven to the hero academy by my parents. I could get there by myself faster on foot, but I want them to see me off since they won’t get to see or talk to me much during my two years there. I give them both a hug and a kiss before saying goodbye and continuing forward without looking back, with a smile on my face. As I walk to the academy with the other superhumans, I can hear them whispering to themselves and each other.

“Did he seriously just do that?”

“How old is he really?”

“He’s the spitting image of a country pumpkin with that bright blonde hair and light blue eyes.”

“He’s so childish.”

“I don’t think he’ll make it a month without causing a scene.”

“No one will want to hire him.”

I’m used to this kind of bullying and hearing these kinds of mean words said to me, so it doesn’t bother me. I actually expect it to be worse since I’m in a competitive environment where people are trying to impress others to get the best job possible for themselves. The hero academy looks very modern, combined with traditional Gothic architecture to give it a sense of history. Statues and pictures of heroes from all ages are all around the academy, along with pictures depicting the parts of history where heroes have helped out the most, such as in the founding of this country and the winning of wars. Every inch of this place is fascinating to me since there was nothing like it in my hometown. It’s like a piece of the big cities got placed in the middle of nowhere, so that superhumans of all kinds can safely put their abilities to the test.

Going up to my dorm, I find that my roommates are already settled in and look at me as if I’m not meant to be there. One of them looks disheveled with long black hair, dark brown eyes, pale skin, and is wearing a wrinkly hoodie, pants, and dirty sneakers. Another is a bald, muscular man with orange eyes who is well put together and just got back from the gym, judging by his sweatpants, tank top, and running shoes. The other one is a brown haired, green-eyed, well-dressed man, as he wears a shawl, cap, and a dark blue uniform of a police officer, accompanied by black boots.

“Hello! I’m-”

“Wait,” my roommate with a disheveled look says as he takes out a device to scan me. “You’re John Elio from the rural town of Poca Bellezza. Your powers are extreme strength and agility, you were born with them, and they come from a supernatural source.”

“Yes, you’re right! How were you able to find that out?”

“My tech can scan you and access all the information on you that’s on public sites and the private ones I’ve been able to hack into. Unlike you, my superpower is nothing unnatural. It’s all in my head, and my proficiency with tech and science. I can answer almost any question you have.”

“Okay. What’s your name?”

“…Luke. Don’t you want to know more than that, like how my tech works or some big question only I can answer?”

“I want to get to know you better since we’re going to be friends while we’re in school and hopefully after, but first, I want to get to know the other two guys.”

“I might as well go first, then,” the man in an officer’s uniform says with a bow and shakes my hand. “My name is Titus. I used to be a police officer, but I am now trying to be a superhuman hero.”

I bow my head and say, “It’s an honor to meet you, officer. What made you want to go from the righteous job of an officer to a hero?”

Titus’s eyes widen with his smile as he says, “Thank you for the compliment. Not many people respect the station of an officer these days.”

“But we do in Poca Bellezza. We say hi to them, salute them, and bow to them, along with having parades for them and treating them to breakfast, lunch, or dinner.”

“Ha! I wish I were stationed down there. Maybe I won’t have chosen to be in this academy.”

“The officers down in Poca Bellezza don’t do much, and get paid as much as you do, so it’s probably not as good as you think because of the heroes in the area,” Luke says as he taps at one of his many computers.

“That’s why I chose to be a superhuman hero,” Titus says. “Being a cop these days doesn’t get you much respect or as much work because of the prevalence of superhumans and the many hero and vigilante groups, both legitimate and rogue. I got more physical enhancements than what the usual officers are given, so I can keep up with the superhumans and get a job that pays better and is more honorable.”

“It’s such a simple and vain reason for such an ‘honorable’ cop,” the muscular man says.

“Oh yeah? You didn’t explain to Luke and me what your reasons for being here are yet, Mark.”

“To change the world and make it a better place. It’s that simple,” Mark says with a confident smile and shrug as if the answer was obvious. “That’s the real reward and goal of having power and strength.”

“Really? You seem a bit too confident for someone whose background is being a no-name vigilante.”

“That’s because I know I’m meant to accomplish great things. Just like John, I got my powers when I was born, but I can fly, lift heavy things, and breathe fire.”

“So, you’re basically a human dragon?”

“That’s true! It’s why my vigilante name is the Red Dragon. What about you, John? Do you have a hero name or aspirations like me?”

“No, I don’t have a hero name. I’m just using my real name.”

“Aren’t you worried that the criminals and villains you’ll face will go after your friends or family? It’s why you need a hero identity that’s protected by the government.”

“Doesn’t the government protect those who use their real names?”

“They do and prefer people who don’t hide anything from them,” Luke comments.

“Yeah, but just because they’re protected doesn’t mean that no one will go after them.”

“On the contrary, it’s less likely that anyone will go after John’s parents since they know they’re under government protection. Besides, there are ways of finding a hero’s secret identity if they really wanted to go after your loved ones.”

“Whatever. Using your real name and telling the government everything about you is just you giving them power over you.”

“We are serving our country,” I say.

“We’re serving the people,” Mark tries to correct me.

“No, it’s the government,” Titus says. “Take it from an officer. You follow their rules and do everything they tell you to do, even if you don’t like it. If you disagree, then you should be in one of those rogue hero groups.”

“The country is meant to serve the people,” I say.

“But it doesn’t always. More often than not, it serves those who hold the most power and influence.”

“That’s why it needs to change, and I’m going to be the one who does it,” Luke says.

“You’re probably not going to do much. Think about the traditional movement that is happening now. Officers dress up more formally than ever and wear armor that looks like medieval knight armor, and laws are becoming more conservative. This is because a majority of people and influencers are pushing the culture and country in this direction, and it’s not because of a single person or even a group of people.”

“Regardless, I’m going to do my part. I will make a difference in the world through my powers.”

“Right. It’s part of my purpose for being here,” I say. “I want to use these powers for the reasons God gave them.”

“So, you want to change the world like me?”

“I’m not sure if I will. All I want to do is whatever God wants.”

“Do you want to defeat the biggest villains and save thousands of lives?”

“If that’s what it means.”

“What about making speeches and influencing the people in power to rid any trace of corruption?”

“I’m not sure if I can, but sure, I’ll do it if I can.”

“Come on, John. You gotta have a plan and an end goal. It can’t just be ‘serving God’.”

“But that’s all my life is. God calls us to be faithful rather than successful.”

“Those two things have the same meaning in my book. I may be competing with you to get a hero job, but I’ll teach you what I know and throw you a bone since you seem like an honest kid, assuming you’ll do the same for me.”

“Okay?”

With introductions done, I talk to Luke a bit more since Mark was talking about himself and his ambitions so much, to get to know him a bit more.

“There’s not much to say. I got into this academy because of my technical skills, and I want to be a hero to help others. That’s all there is to it, really,” Luke says.

“That’s a great motivation! Let’s achieve it together,” I say.

Luke smiles at me and agrees. My time in the academy is just one test after another, which I either take on my own or compete against someone else with similar powers. The academy is divided into sections that test specific skill sets, so I end up spending more time with Mark than with Luke and Titus. Mark and I face various trials, such as saving people from villains or burning buildings, or being on the other side of the match by defending a person from my opponent, or destroying something while they try to protect it. We’re judged based on how much damage we cause in each role, the amount of time we take, and how well we follow procedures. Sometimes, Mark performs better, and other times I do, both results pushing us to improve for next time.

By the end of each day, we tell Luke and Titus how their days were, and they do the same. There’s a variety of places to eat and spend our time at, such as karaoke bars, arcades, sports areas, and clubs. This is the basic schedule for my time at the academy, besides making time to talk to my parents and go to church on Sundays. We don’t have any homework to do. Instead, we are encouraged to look for jobs, our test scores, and keep an eye on our emails for job offers.

In our second year, we have field work with hero and vigilante associations. During this time, I work with my class and roommates on patrols and to bring lesser criminals to justice, while leaving the big-name ones to the actual heroes. Of course, Mark wants to take on the stronger criminals, but we have to restrain him so he doesn’t get himself hurt. Since we’re in our last year, we have to start seriously applying to groups to work for.

“Will you be working with the Catholic Church?” Titus asks me.

“No, why?” I ask.

“It just seemed like the group you’d want to work for.”

“I’d do it, but I heard about some shady things happening with them, so I’d rather not.”

“I guess you’re not as naïve as you seem,” Mark comments.

“There’s a group for a hero of every political belief, religion, and group of interest. It is generally better to be a part of a group that fights for the country rather than for a specific goal. You’ll get more work and respect that way,” Luke says.

“All specific groups also have ulterior motives and infighting, so it’s not worth it, as far as I’m concerned. You’re making the right call, John,” Titus says.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m joining the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group. They have the right idea and carefully chose who they’re working for,” Mark says.

“Are you serious? They’re a bit too up their own butts about being patriotic and being the good guys, and never mind. I answered my own question,” Titus says.

“Seriously, at least they don’t protect corrupt members of society, unlike the police.”

“The police don’t always have a choice in who they protect.”

“That’s why I’m joining Seventeen-Seventy-Six. They not only protect the innocent and punish the guilty, but they also expose corrupt businessmen and politicians in our country, just like our original founders did when they separated from their countries of origin.”

“They’re also a barely legal hero association because of their more violent tendencies and methods in exposing their targets,” Luke comments.

“They do whatever it takes to ensure that criminals face justice. I’d join them even if they weren’t a legally recognized hero group.”

People mainly focus on joining a group that aligns with their beliefs, offers the most rewards, or grants them the most fame. As for me, I chose the one that fits my beliefs without forcing my views on others. Evangelization is critically important so others can live rightly and go to Heaven, but the Church has more effective ways to evangelize than through force. My role as a hero is to protect people and bring criminals to justice. The evangelizing part involves showing others compassion and leading them to the faith through my example and dedication to God. Although I serve my country outwardly as a hero, I am first and foremost God’s servant and then a citizen of my country.

My country, the Columbia Union, was founded on those same values of practicing what you believe in and bringing true order into the world, even if it means fighting against your own country. As such, I will follow the example of the founding fathers and my parents' teachings and strive to be the best citizen by being the best servant of God I can be.