Chapter 12: The Illusionary Hero
"Are you ready to go, Nikolas?"
"I guess, but isn't Alexander coming too?"
"He said he was gonna stay at school a little longer so he could do some training with his friend."
"O-Ok."
This is it. Papa is taking me to meet the pro hero Mr. Tadashi told us about. We tried coming over the weekend, but the guy we wanted to meet wasn't there, so we had to make an appointment instead. I really wanted mom and Alexander to come with us, but I was happy that at least dad was here.
"You ok son?"
I nodded.
"You really have nothing to worry about. We're only going to see him. Whether or not he trains you is your decision."
I nodded again. I knew what my dad said was true, but I feel like it really wasn't. Mr. Tadashi said that illusionary quirks like mine are rare, so this guy might be the only one who could train me.
It was a fifteen minute drive from my school and when we got to the hero's headquarters, I was amazed by what I saw. It was a giant skyscraper that was lit up like a christmas tree and the gates were made from iron bars that were black as the night. The archway had a really cool design made from more bars that reminded me of the ones used for European theaters.
"Nice place, don't you think Nikolas?"
"Yea, it's really big."
He headed inside and for a second, I thought this might have been the wrong place.
There were red curtains and carpets everywhere, marble columns that lined up the halls, velvet rope used to close off the area behind the reception desk, and two grand staircases leading up to the second floor. There were even some marble lion statues on both ends of the main hall. All in all, this place looked more like a royal theater than a hero agency.
I was so busy looking at everything that I didn't notice dad talking to the receptionist. It wasn't until he called me over that I finally saw them smiling at me.
"You must be young Nikolas," the person running the front desk said sweetly.
She was an average height fair skinned woman with blue eyes and blond hair that was tied into a ponytail with the front of her hair covering her left eye.
She wore a dark purple shirt, a white long sleeved coat that had purple flower petals that decorated in a way that made the petals look like they were falling. I couldn't tell because of the desk, but I think the coat was long enough to go down and cover her legs.
"Yes I am. Mr. Tadashi told me to come here, but he didn't tell me what the person who's supposed to train me looks like. He just said I would know him when I see him."
"Heheh, he's not wrong there. Just give me a moment to get him."
"That won't be necessary!"
As soon as we heard that, all the lights turned off before what looked like a spotlight turned on in the middle of the room. When I looked up at it, I saw a man floating down towards us.
Grrrreatings my young friend!" the man said as he landed, rolling his tongue on the R.
He had slightly tanned skin, brown hair, a brown well groomed mustache, and brown eyes. He was wearing a black silk top hat with a red ribbon, black tuxedo that was red on the inside of the jacket, red bowtie and a black cape that was also red on the inside. In other words, his outfit was that of a professional magician.
"Welcome to our hero agency Talbain family!" he said as he took off his hat and bowed his head before flipping the hat back on. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am the pro hero 'Distortion'!"
"Distortion?"
"That's right, young raccoon! And if I may be so bold, not only am I a pro hero, but I can safely say that I am the greatest illusionist to exist since the great Harry Houdini himself. Therefore, there is no one more suited to teach you in the ways of the illusionary arts than myself!"
"So you're the one Mr. Tadashi told me about?"
"Indeed I am. Mr. Tadashi, as you call him, is an old friend of mine and when I heard that one of his students was coming to me for help, I could barely contain myself."
I nodded to the man in understanding. I was going to say something, but that's when papa walked in front of me and stood between us.
"Mr. … 'Distortion', was it? While I appreciate that you're willing to help my son, you should understand that nothing is official yet. What's more, between your, well… 'showy' nature and Nikolas being as shy as he is, I'm sure you can understand my hesitance in allowing you to train him."
"Oh, of course. Please forgive me. I was just so excited to have a student that I seemed to have gotten ahead of myself."
Distortion looked at me and smiled, but I just looked away. I didn't have anything against him, but what my papa said was true. This guy was really over the top and it was making me anxious. If he was a magician, he might have me perform on stage with him as a part of my training and I couldn't handle that.
"Sir, what kind of training do you have in mind for my son?"
"Ah, yes, if you'll just follow me," Distortion said as he walked into one of the hallways while motioning for us to follow him.
I looked up at papa who smiled at me as he put his hand on my shoulder. He kept me close as we followed Distortion into the hallway.
As we followed the pro hero, I couldn't help but notice all the rooms we passed. Each one had a big window that let us see inside where I noticed that there were a lot of other kids here too, all of them either using their quirks or trying to do magic tricks.
"As you can see, this is not only a pro hero agency, but it also doubles as a sort of after school program for young children. Here we monitor them while they practice using their quirks or in some cases discover what kind of quirk they have," Distortion explained while he kept walking.
"I noticed that a lot of these children aren't using the typical kind of quirks we usually see," papa said as he kept looking through the windows. "No super strength or speed, no elemental manipulation, there aren't even any mutation quirks."
"That, my good wolf man friend, is because this program is for cerebral quirks, or quirks that stem from the mind/brain."
"You mean like physics?" I asked.
"In a manner of speaking, yes. You see, most quirks of this nature aren't easy to control and sadly the younger generations are very harsh on those who don't have impressive or flashy abilities. What's more, since human history shows just how skeptical we are about these kinds of abilities, it adds another layer of difficulty that those with mind quirks must overcome."
"You see, one thing we've noticed that these types of powers have in common is that the users must have a clear mind in order for their powers to work. Things like feeling nervous or feeling pressured actually hinders the user's ability to control or even activate their quirks. As such, we have created a safe environment where these children can calmly train without fear of judgment."
"While that is impressive, what can you do for abilities that rely on strong emotions like Nikolas' seems to?"
"Ahh! For quirks like that, we have a room that was specifically made with them in mind. Essentially, it is a simulation room that uses holographic technology to either create or recreate scenarios that causes the quirk to manifest. Of course, it is completely safe and is monitored at all times."
"To ensure this, we make it so no staff may take a lunch break until someone else comes to free them from their duties. We also have the three people monitoring the room at the same time so that if one of them has to step away for any reason, there are still two staff members keeping watch."
"Is… is there a reason why you need to do that?" I asked.
Distortion nodded before he kneeled down to meet me at eye level.
"Nikolas, as I'm sure you can tell, safety is our number one concern. It's true that anything the simulation room creates can't hurt you physically, it can still damage your mental state. As such, we have multiple experts watching so that if it ever seems like it's too much for you or your fellow trainees, they can stop it immediately. They also look for even the slightest hint of over exertion when deciding to end the exercise."
"You see, unlike other training facilities, who wait and see if a child can overcome something, even when they are completely exhausted, we take great care in avoiding that. That isn't to say we don't push you to go beyond your limits, far from it. We simply don't take a wait and see approach since we are dealing with scenarios that could end in mental trauma that can take years to heal."
Papa nodded to Distortion and spoke.
"It's good to see you are taking such an approach. If it was the typical training, I would say you are being too soft, but in this case, you are right. Unlike the body, the mind can be extremely fragile and can collapse at even the slightest sign of negativity."
"Yes, you are correct Mr. Talbain and that is why I hate how people treat it. Mental disorders such as depression, chronic paranoia, phobias, PTSD and many others are very real, yet they aren't always treated as such. There are those who see such things as signs of weakness for the person who has them, which only worsens the disorder. It sickens me to no end, which is why I do this."
"There are even those that think people who have these disorders belong in asylums or that medicine will easily cure their afflictions. People like them know nothing about the pain that the afflicted have to deal with everyday and even go as far as to say that the afflicted are just making excuses."
"As far as I am concerned, it's people like them that deserve to have the affliction. What right do they have to say such things when they have never dealt with the kind of suffering mental disorders bring?"
"From the sound of it, it seems you yourself have experienced this discrimination first hand."
"Indeed I have Mr. Talbain. However, that is not what we are here to discuss. We are here to discuss your son's enrollment in our program. Now, before you get the wrong idea, I can assure you we do physical training as well since it's been proven that a strong and healthy body is just as important as a healthy mind."
Papa nodded to the man before looking down at me.
"Well, what do you think, son? Do you wanna give it a try?"
"I uh…"
Before I could say anything else, an alarm went off. Papa held me tight while Distortion had a serious look on his face, the first one I've seen so far.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"A villain attack. You two stay here."
Just like that, Distortion ran back towards the hallway. Papa was about to grab my hand, but I ran after the magician before he could. I don't know what made me go after Distortion, I just had this weird feeling that I needed to see what was going on.
I followed Distortion outside the building and saw him fighting a guy who had giant hands. The villain's hands looked like two giant brick walls and he was using them to crush and throw a bunch of trucks.
I looked at Distortion who looked completely calm even though he was in the middle of what looked like a war zone. I couldn't believe that Distortion was just standing there and twirling a cane like it was just a normal day. Even papa and big brother Alexander would at least have their guards up.
"Hold it right there you fiend!" Distortion said in a very dramatic way.
"Huh, Who are you?"
"Well my not so friendly friend, I am the one who will be turning you in on this fine day."
"Hah! What can a shrimp like you do to me?"
"Allow me to show you. Prepare yourself, villain, IT'S SHOWTIME!"
While Distortion was getting ready to fight, I was still standing in front of the building. I know I should have ran away and hid, but I just kept watching him. I was so into it that I didn't even notice papa running up to me until he grabbed my arm.
"Nikolas!"
"P-Papa?!"
"What on earth were you thinking? Why would you run off like that?!"
"Well I-"
"Nevermind, just find a place to hide while I handle this."
I tried to say something, but papa pushed me towards the hero agency's door while he ran to help Distortion. I didn't run inside though since I wanted to see what Distortion would do. He was going to be my teacher after all and I needed to know what he could do. So instead, I hid behind the stairs.
While papa was having me hide, Distortion started fighting. The giant hands guy threw a car at him, but he wasn't moving at all. I was about to call out to him, but Distortion just smiled.
"I'm afraid such a simple attack won't work on a master of illusions such as myself. Behold!"
Distortion put a hand up and just like that, the car faded out of existence.
"What the?" I said in amazement.
"Huh? Hey you! What did you do to that car?" the villain yelled.
"No need to fret, I simply put it somewhere safe. However, you will not be so lucky."
I was confused by what distortion meant by that, until he bright his cane up. He twisted the head of it and when he pulled, out came a thin but strong looking sword with a sharp tip. I remembered from watching my brother make one, that his sword is called a rapier, a weapon that's meant for piercing through a person's armor and skin by thrusting the weapon forward.
"Ha! You think such a puny toothpick will work on me?" the villain laughed as he brought his huge fist up.
"Distortion! Get out of the way!" I called out.
Distortion just smirked again, but I couldn't understand why. I was going to yell at him to run, but before I could, the villain brought down his fist, squishing Distortion into dust.
"Distortion!"
"Hehe, that's what you get, puny man."
"Come now, surely you can do better than that."
The hands guy's eyes widened and so did mine. When he lifted his fist, Distortion was gone.
"Now, now my capacious compadre, you should know a magician never reveals their secrets."
I looked around for where Distortion's voice was coming from and from what I saw, so did papa and the hands guy. But for some reason, we couldn't find him. That is, until the villain guy screamed. I turned my head and that's when I saw Distortion come down on him with his rapier. But, the way he did it was strange.
Distortion hit the villain with a downward slash like he was using a normal sword. That didn't make sense to me until I saw the bad guy's arm. The section he hit was gone. He didn't sever the arm or anything, that section was just gone, like it was erased.
The man with the giant hands started freaking out and I didn't blame him. He could still move his arm and hand like normal, but his arm was divided into two parts with an empty space in between them.
"My arm! What did you do to my arm?!"
Distortion didn't answer. He just smiled before putting his left index finger in front of his mouth like he was shushing the bad buy. He got angry at that and swiped at Distortion. That's when it happened. The villain's hands literally went through Distortion's body.
The pro hero's body was now divided in two just like the bad guy's arm, but Distortion didn't seem phased at all. I didn't get it all, so I tried to get a closer look. When I did, I noticed that Distortion's body looked wispy, almost like what a cloud looks like when something passes through it. That's when it hit me.
"He's manipulating the air, just like big brother when using his mist. He's distorting the air around him to create mirages. That's why he's called distortion. What a cool quirk!"
As I thought about this, Distortion lunged at the villain, but this time going for a full thrust with his rapier. When he did though, the villain jumped out of the way, leaving Distortion wide open. At least that's what we thought.
As soon as he landed, the man with the giant hands let out a pained scream. I turned to see what happened and that's when I saw his shoulder getting pierced, putting it under Distorion's spell. Just like before, the shoulder faded away and the pro hero disappeared too.
"Damn it! Where did you go now?!Get out here and face me you coward!"
"Distortion is most likely right next to him," I said to myself as I tried to figure out where the next attack would come from. "Just like with the mirages, he's probably distorting the air around himself in order to turn invisible."
Just then, papa stood in front of the villain and he was wearing the gauntlet on his right paw that he was working on for Sir Nighteye.
"He's no coward, but if you want to face someone, I'll be more than happy to be your opponent."
"Huh? Who are you mutt?"
Papa grew a tick mark at that. He's just like my big brother in that he hates being called a dog in any way shape or form. Or I guess, my brother is like him. Either way, that guy isn't walking away in one piece.
"Hehehe, a mutt am I?" Papa said with a scary looking smile as a dark aura surrounded him. "Well, let's see if you can still talk shit when this mutt makes you his personal CHEW TOY!"
Papa slammed his fist into the ground, causing it to crack and break apart. The crack kept going until it was at the villain's feet. That's when the stone columns shot out of the ground, hitting the giant hands guy in his face, stomach, and groin. He was launched into the air where papa wanted him.
Papa ran forward at full speed before jumping off the columns he made. Once he was in the air, he got above the villain who was still flying backwards. Papa then punched him in the face with all his strength, sending him straight into the street, leaving him buried in a creator.
That would have been the end of it, but because the guy made the mistake of making papa mad, it was far from over. Papa dove down and before as he was in striking distance, he spun forward, turning himself into a ball in order to build up his speed and strength.
As soon as I saw what he was doing, I turned away. I knew that attack because I've seen him and big brother use it dozens of times and I knew what was gonna happen. After I turned away, I heard the man scream as he coughed up blood, and the sound of bones breaking.
That special axe kick is one of my family's deadliest attacks because it's not only powerful, but also extremely accurate and precise. When used correctly, the impact and shockwave it creates is sent throughout the whole body, breaking every bone in it and even causing internal bleeding.
I shook my head of the thought and looked back to see how bad it was. I didn't see anything except a huge dirt cloud and a broken street. I ran over to see how papa was and when I did, I saw him standing in a really deep creator that could be used to make a lake.
There, papa was standing over the villain with one foot on his chest. That's when I noticed the hands guy's arms and shoulder were back to normal and that they were bleeding. Papa then let out a mighty howl just like big brother does. I always wondered why Alexander did that and now I know.
"Nikolas!" papa said with a growl.
"Y-Yes sir?"
"Go wait by the door. I need to speak with Distortion."
I nodded my head as papa jumped out of the creator with the bad guy over his shoulder. He dropped the guy on the street in disgust just in time for Distortion to reappear. When papa started talking to him, I ran back to the hero agency to wait.
A few minutes later, papa and Distortion walked up to me be smiling.
"Tell me Nikolas, what did you think of this place and of Distortion" papa asked me as he kneeled down to be at eye level with me.
"Well I… I think this place is neat and it's nice to see there are other kids here. But um… I don't know if I want to be here to train, at least not by myself. It's cool and all, but there are so many people and smells here that it makes me nervous."
"As for Mr. Distortion, I think he's really cool. I like how his power works and I think I can learn a lot from him. But still, I don't know if I want to be alone with him. I don't think he's a bad person or anything, but he's really over the top and it makes me feel uneasy."
I rubbed my arm as I looked away before turning to Distortion.
"I'm sorry sir. I don't want to make you sad or anything, I just get nervous easily when I'm not with someone form my family."
"Think nothing of it, young Nikolas. I completely understand. However I must inquire, are you not comfortable at school?"
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Not really. I mean, I like Mr. Tadashi since he's not very loud and he always talks to me in a calm voice. But the other kids can be a little much and I'm still not over how I almost got beat up by some bullies on my first day there."
Distortion frowned at this. I guess he's like Mr. Tadashi in that he doesn't like bullies either. I mean, I already knew that thanks to what he said before, but he looked really upset. I wanted to say sorry, but before I could, Distortion kneeled down to me too before smiling at me.
"It's alright Nikolas, I understand. You are a very quiet person and someone like me can be very intimidating to someone like you. However, you shouldn't assume I will be the only one training you. We have a great many teachers here, a good number of which are child psychologists and therapists. I have no doubt they will be very helpful in dealing with your anxiety."
"With all that said, I hope you understand that no one is forcing you to be here. This is your choice and if you feel like this isn't the place for you, then so be it. Mr. Tadashi only recommended me because he believes my staff and I are best equipped for helping you learn how to control your quirk, to which I agree with. However, I will in no way hold you here against your will."
I looked to the side for a bit before looking up at the mustached man to nod.
"Ok, I understand. Would it… would it be alright for me to think it over?"
"Of course, take all the time you need," Distortion said as he patted me on the shoulder before standing up, my dad doing the same.
"Well Mr. Talbain, it seems like you and your family have much to discuss. Thank you for your help with the villain, but I'm sure young Nikolas here must be exhausted after such an eventful day."
"Yes, I'm sure he is. Thank you for your time today."
"Think nothing of it. I truly hope we can talk again in the future."
Papa smiled at him before bowing his head. I did the same and the two of us walked out of the building while saying goodbye.
I got into the car and put my seatbelt on while papa started driving us home. After a few minutes, papa patted me on the head and spoke.
"So Nikolas, do you think it would be a good place for you if you weren't nervous?"
"I… I don't know."