The next morning...

Kian's POV

Chapter 3: Why we have to keep this a secret

I ate my breakfast

Bit of a boring line but roll with me

I sat in the dining room and the time I think was around 9 AM. We were well into the summer holidays and even though me facing down that monster was weeks ago, the memory of it was still strong in my head. In the dining table sat my little brother and sister who happily ate their cereals. Our family dog, Alciel was on the floor, wagging his tail as he ate his dog food.

"Kian, can you tell us what happened?!" Eren (my little brother) asked me.

"Yeah, tell us, tell us!" Diana (my little sister) asked me.

"Uh, kids, don't talk about that," Dad said nervously. "I don't want you to go telling people what happened, remember what "

"Why?" I asked him. "You still haven't told me why we have to keep our powers hidden."

Mum took a bite of her burger and turned to Dad. "We have to tell them, we've kept it from them long enough plus, it's better if they understood why we keep it a secret."

"Tell us what?" my little brother and sister asked them, their purple eyes full of curiosity.

"You take the two, I'll talk to Kian," Dad replied wolfing down his wrap into the abyss called his stomach.

"Why me?" Mum quipped back. "I'm his mother!"

"I know, I was the one who got him into this world in the first place, I think I should tell him," Dad clarified. "Come on darling, please?"

Dad gave Mum a pair of puppy dog eyes that would have put Aciel's to shame. Mum sighed and then turned to me. "If you don't understand anything, just come and ask me, okay?"

"Yeah, I will!" I replied while laughing at Dad's exasperated face.


Dad then took me to the living room and sat me on his knee, a glass of water in his hand while I saw Mum doing the same, taking my little brother and sister somewhere else. Dad then turned me to face him. "I'm telling you this because you asked me okay?"

"Ooh, are you going to tell me then?"

Dad raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, it's...why I brought you here." He coughed and continued. "There's a very good reason we don't use our powers in public, especially on Earth. The Order prohibits it." Dad replied. "If we didn't have memory wipers, Bastille and Rebellion would have all the worlds governments looking for them."

"Order?" I was confused by what he meant. "Did someone pay for something on eBay?"

"N-No, nothing like that." Dad smiled through head shakes. "The Order of Heroes -or the Order for short is an intergalactic/interplanetary organisation that is responsible for training superheroes and maintaining order on the planets they help. Eden Academy is part of that."

I stood there confused. "So what your telling me is that this Order of Heroes is like a Hero Government?"

"That's a surprisingly good way of putting it," Dad said. "And like any government, there are rules that every student and pros have to follow. One of them is to hide your powers from the world of humans. The non-powered people." Dad took a sip of water and continued. "See, Earth...humans are paranoid. Do you know what happens when humans see something they can't control?"

"Um, they try and control it?"

"Exactly. These humans try and control the Earth, not knowing that they are at the mercy of the planet, instead of the other way around. And if the secret of the existence of aliens and superpowers got out...well I don't want to think about that." Dad explained, fear lacing his voice.

"But Dad?!" I complained. "There has to be good people who would like people like us. I mean come on, people like seeing Superman and Batman on TV!"

Dad sighed. "I thought that too but see back in the old times, like really really old times, people beyond Earth lived with humanity and-"

"Woah Woah!" I exclaimed. "Are you telling me that aliens lived on Earth?!"

"Well yes. Did I forget to mention that? Some of them still do, just in secret of course."

"So does that mean Mr Gears was an alien too?"

"You could say that," Dad answered my question.

"So the aliens who live on Earth, they disguise themselves right?" I asked. "Because I think it would be pretty obvious that a little green man is walking around."

"Do you think all aliens look like that?"

"Yes-"

"Then what about me and Mum?" Dad asked. "We look like regular people and so do you-" he gently tugged my ear. "- all of us are physically indistinguishable from a human."

"Hey!" I recoiled at how Dad pinched my ear. "I can't believe this! So there are aliens that look human?"

"Exactly," Dad replied. "Universe is a big place, so not every alien race looks like each other, some of them look like insects, some of them even weirder than you can ever think of."

"Right," I nodded. "I guess the movies are wrong then?"

"You wouldn't believe it, Kian!" Dad laughed. "Humans can be so imaginative. As Iwas saying, some of these people, the aliens even so far as the ancient times lived with humans. These people were praised because of their powers and sometimes even told to be as powerful as a deity!"

"Woah!"

Dad continued. "But eventually, jealously, hatred and bitterness began to fill the minds of humans and thus, the people they praised became their enemies, they hunted them down and to prevent something like that ever happening again, those with powers hid and kept to themselves."

"How bad was it?" I asked him. "It can't have been that bad...right?"

Dad sat up. "Kian, have you heard of the Salem Witch Trials? If not, then pay attention, this is just how bad humans can be. Many women were killed because they performed witchcraft-at least what qualified as witchcraft to those humans. What's tragic is that most of them were innocent and the people who used this so-called 'witchcraft' only used them to help others. It's one of the many reasons why people with superpowers stay hidden from the rest of the world." Dad explained. "Seriously, humans can be so paranoid and stupid sometimes!"

"R-really?!" I asked him. "You're serious?! They really did that?!"

He nodded. "I am, and it's something I want to make sure you understand. Don't use your powers on Earth and don't ever use them in front of people that you don't trust. I can understand what happened earlier but never use them in front of people-especially humans you don't trust."

I nodded rapidly. "Yeah, got it, never use them in public!"

Dad let out a satisfied sigh. "Which brings me to the next point-" Dad was about to speak but he was interrupted by the ringing of our doorbell. "Ah, I think they might be the people who I wanted to talk to."

"What's going on?" I asked Dad as he moved me away from his lap. "Who did you call?"

Dad ignored me and opened the door to reveal Harry and Violet. "Hey Mr Taylor," Harry waved. "You said to meet us here right?"

"Harry, Violet what are you doing here?!" I asked them. "Is this about-"

"About what happened earlier, yes it is." Violet finished my sentence. "Your dad told us to come here so he could explain what that exactly was. Didn't you know about this?"

I shook my head. "Not really no. I didn't know you were even coming in here!"

"Oh, is this a bad time then?" Harry asked my Dad.

"No, not in the slightest. Kian's just surprised that's all." Dad said with a little smile.


Late Evening, still in my back garden.

"So that's why huh?"

The three of us were in our garden as we let what happened to us sink in. Violet was more than content to play with Alciel rather than join Harry and I as we kicked a football around in our back garden.

"You guys are going to keep it, right?" I asked the two of them.

"Of course we are!" Harry and Violet said in unison. "Why would you think we wouldn't?"

I laughed weakly. "Just a hunch." I turned to Violet. "you know you can play with us. We don't really mind that you're a girl."

She chuckled. "Thanks but I much prefer playing with animals instead." she ran her hand through Alciel who happily wagged his tail as Violet had him on her lap.

"Why does he like playing with you more than me?" I complained. "My family has had him since he was a little puppy!"

"Maybe you should stop kicking the ball about and play with your pet instead?" Violet held Alciel towards me and he whined like he wanted to play with me instead of her.

I sighed and moved to grab my pet dog from Violet's hand while Harry looked at me with disappointment. "Come on, you can't keep playing?"

I shook my head. "I'm sorry but when I see my pet dog, I just want to play with him."

While Harry complained, I sat down next to Violet and played with Alciel who looked happy to be sitting on my lap. He moved in between the two of us while snuggling up to us.

After a while of letting Alciel run between the two of us under the soft evening sky, I started to wonder what that voice was but before I could go any further, I was brought back to reality by Violet.

"What you thinking about?" she asked

"I-It's nothing." I shook my head. "So, I suppose you also want to go to this hero school?"

She nodded. "My Dad works there as a doctor, so I want to follow in his footsteps. He told me that it's our job to use these powers to help those who can't help themselves and that's why he works as a doctor."

"Sounds just like my dad." I leaned back on the ground. "He told me the exact same thing."

"He did a good job of raising you, you know. Even though I wanted to do something about that monster in the streets, I was just frozen in fear. You charged towards him straight on and punched him to the sky!" Violet praised me

I blushed under her praise. "I mean it was my fault that he hurt those people, I was just doing what was right."

"Kian, you Superman punched him to the sky, you did more than enough," Harry explained. "If I had my suit on, I think I could have done something like that!"

Violet chuckled to herself. "Really? I remember you stuck in a place like I was!"

"Well, I couldn't exactly run in there could I?" Harry clarified as he stood proudly. "Did you see the needles on his hands?!"

"If one of them managed to hit you, it would have cut right through you," Violet explained. "My Dad was there to help with the injuries and he was surprised that you-" she pointed at me. "-managed to stop the monster!"

"Your Dad?" I tilted my head. "I don't think I've ever met him."

"Oh, yeah. He helped everyone after you passed out Kian," Harry added. "He was very nice."

"How long was I knocked out for?" I asked the two. "I just remember everything fading to black and then waking up again in the middle of the street."

"You were out for two minutes," Harry explained, the football just under his feet. "We thought you would never wake up but Violet's dad made sure you were still alive and you know...not dead."

"I'll tell him my thanks when I meet him." I agreed. "He seems like a nice person."

"Of course he is!" Violet slapped my shoulder lightly. "He's like an Angel!"

Harry laughed. "I can see that."

"Harry, you want to go to this school too right?" Violet asked Harry.

"Yeah?"

"Why?"

Harry sighed and sat down next to me. As he did though, Alciel decided to play with Harry instead of the two of us, sitting comfortably on his lap. "Well, come on, it's a hero school where I can be a superhero, what kind of kid wouldn't want that?!"

"I suppose. Does your suit count as a superpower though?" Violet asked him.

"It does, that's what Kian's dad told me. There's a lot of heroes who use technology to help people." Harry smiled widely and looked up at the sky. "You know, I always thought that life on other planets could exist but I could never see myself sitting next to two of them."

"Hey!" Violet protested. "I'm half-human you know!"

"Whoops, sorry." Harry apologised. "Both your parents are aliens right?"

I nodded. "Weren't you scared to learn about it?"

"Uh, a little bit. But if they are nice like your parents, then I have no need to worry!" Harry explained. "Hmmm, ou know, thinking about it, you're just like Superman you know."

"What?"

"Yeah, think about it. Parents are aliens and you grew up on Earth. Sounds like a textbook superhero origin story!" Harry added. "What do you think?"

"I don't exactly know if my parents home planet was destroyed or not you know," I said. "Also, can you not call me that, it brings back bad memories."

"Oh right, sorry dude. I was just caught up in all of this and I forgot." Harry apologized. "Hey, if you think about it, the next time you meet Varahad, you don't have to be scared of him anymore."

"I was never scared of him." I corrected him. "I just didn't want to reveal I did have powers because my parents told me not to."

"I wonder what his reaction would be if he saw Kian do that, do you think he would collapse in shock?" Violet asked.

"I don't know and I don't care anymore. What happened in the past is just the past now, all I care about is going to this high school that dad told me about." I stood up in front of my friends. "I will be a superhero just like my parents and I won't let anything stop me from doing so!"

Harry and Violet agreed with a chorus of hmms and nods. Violet then stood up and looked at the sky above. "Well, it's getting late so I should be heading back home."

"This early?" Harry raised an eyebrow. "It's the summer holidays!"

"Well, Harry, Dad has been showing me how to use my powers so I want to learn from him." Violet clarified. "So if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to go home early."

"Tell him I said hi," I said

"I will!" Violet hugged me and Harry as she left. Harry left soon after, leaving me and just Alciel in the garden to myself as we played until the sky turned purple. I didn't know how long I was playing for until I felt a hand on my back, turning to see my Dad just behind me.

"Dad?" I asked him in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"You've been outside for a bit too long you know," Dad explained. "Come on, I've made dinner and it's getting cold."

"Oh, right. Sorry," I said sheepishly. "What did you make today?"

"I've made a nice steak with some fried potatoes, does that make you hungry?"

I nodded rapidly. "Yeah!"

Dad laughed and picked up Alciel in his arms and began to head back home. As he did, I began to think of what Harry said, about what happened to there home planet.

"Dad, can you tell me about the planet you and mum came from?" I asked him

Dad stood still for a moment before turning around. "What did you say?"

"You guys weren't born on Earth, right? So what was your planet like?"

"Oh, r-right. Our home planet was a lot like Earth actually but very bigger. Plus, the inhabitants of that planet were gifted with the most extraordinary superpowers, called Evolutionary Abilities by the order. If we had the choice, we would have raised you there, I know you would have loved it."

"Why didn't you?"

Dad's eyes seemed to go through a lot of things some of which I was too young to understand at the time. "That's a lot complicated than you think. I'll tell you all about it when you're older. I promise you, okay?"

"Okay, thanks, dad!" I said happily.


Unknown Location...again!

I woke up to find myself in another dream I think. Instead of the beach like last time, however, was a classroom instead. There were a lot of kids but my eyes were drawn to a person with black hair and steel grey eyes who looked timid almost.

As he was walking to find the middle of his seat, someone from behind slapped the back of his head making me recoil as I was the one who got injured. "Hey!" the person who got slapped complained. "What was that for?"

The slapper smiled smugly. "Oh sorry, I was just checking if you still had your superpower. You know, since you are a commoner, Phoneix."

"Of course I do!" Phoneix replied angrily. "And you know just because you have a lineage of superheroes in your family doesn't mean you're guaranteed to be a superhero!"

The person facing Phoneix laughed mockingly. "And what, you think you will? Face it, Phoenix, the only reason you were even accepted was Dominion, the greatest of heroes himself took pity on you 6 years ago. You don't deserve a place in Eden, filthy commoner! Dirt like you should stay on the ground instead of trying to contend with us!"

I looked in horror as he launched a punch towards Phoneix's face, his right hand covered in what looked like diamonds,. I wanted to run in and help but to my surprise, the punch didn't seem to have hurt Phoneix.

He glared at his opponent and without wasting a second, drove his right diamond-covered fist into his opponent dropping him to the floor as he coughed violently. "You and others can keep mocking me but I'll show you all that I can be a superhero, I don't need a lineage like yours to do so, Mitras!"

"How *cough* are you going do to that?!" Mitras asked. "You're a commoner!"

"With hard work, I have to repay the faith that Dominion paid in me. I will change their regime, that I promise!" Phoenix declared proudly. "I'll use this power to save as many people as I can see!"

And with that, I woke up in my bedroom, ending the vision of what I just saw