HERO HIGH SCHOOL

Chapter One: The School Above the City

Leo had spent the entire ride trying not to set his admission letter on fire.

So far, he had only burned the bottom-right corner.

He considered that progress.

Leo sat alone near the back of the crowded sky-train, holding the thick red envelope between both hands. Beyond the window, the city stretched beneath him in every direction. Buildings became smaller as the train climbed through the clouds, following a glowing rail suspended thousands of feet above the streets.

Students filled every seat around him.

Some whispered excitedly. Others showed off their abilities despite the warning signs posted throughout the train.

A boy near the front made a coin float above his palm. Two girls across the aisle passed a ball of green light between them. Someone farther back sneezed and accidentally covered the ceiling in frost.

Leo kept his hands wrapped tightly around the envelope.

Warmth gathered beneath his fingers.

"No," he whispered.

A thin line of smoke rose from the paper.

Leo quickly pulled his hands apart.

The fire disappeared before anyone noticed.

He released a slow breath and pushed his round red glasses higher on his nose. His reflection stared back at him from the window—nervous red-brown eyes, black hair pulled into a medium ponytail, and red-tipped strands that refused to stay in place.

He had imagined this day hundreds of times.

In those versions, he stepped onto campus looking calm and confident. Teachers immediately recognized his potential. Other students thought his fire abilities were impressive instead of dangerous.

In none of those versions was he nearly burning his admission letter before reaching the school.

A bell chimed through the train.

"Attention, arriving students," a calm voice announced. "We will be reaching Hero High Academy in three minutes. Please keep all abilities deactivated while exiting the train."

Several students groaned.

Leo leaned closer to the window.

The clouds parted.

His mouth slowly opened.

Hero High floated above the city like an entire kingdom in the sky.

The academy stood on a massive island surrounded by smaller training platforms. Silver towers rose around a central building crowned with an enormous red-and-white crest. Glass bridges connected different sections of the campus, while waterfalls poured from the edges of the island and vanished into the clouds below.

Students flew between platforms. Training machines moved across distant fields. Several enormous statues of legendary heroes guarded the academy entrance.

Leo forgot about the smoke rising from his envelope.

For the first time that morning, he smiled.

"I actually made it."

The sky-train entered the station.

The moment the doors opened, Leo's confidence disappeared again.

Hundreds of first-year students poured onto the platform.

Leo stepped out carefully, gripping the straps of his black backpack. He had barely taken three steps when someone slammed into his shoulder.

His glasses nearly flew from his face.