HEROES

THE ONE WITHOUT A CLASS

Morning came quickly at HEROES Academy.

The once-crowded temporary dorm halls were now full of movement. Students rushed back and forth carrying bags, laughing, shouting, and searching for the buses that would take them to their permanent class quarters.

Outside, the academy transport lanes were lined with sleek black buses, each marked with a glowing golden H, assigned to separate divisions.

One bus for Norms.

One for Hybrids.

One for Tribrids.

And so on.

The atmosphere was lively, but for T. L, everything felt strangely quiet.

She stood beside Ava near the Tribrid transport station, holding her bag loosely. She tried to smile as Ava adjusted her own backpack.

Ava looked at her carefully.

“You sure you’re okay?”

T. L forced a small grin.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

Ava narrowed her eyes.

“That sounded exactly like yesterday.”

T. L laughed weakly.

“I said I’m fine.”

Ava stepped closer and nudged her shoulder playfully.

“If anyone bothers you, just point at them. I’ll teleport over and drop water on their heads.”

T. L chuckled.

“That is not heroic.”

“It is if I do it dramatically.”

That finally got a real smile from T. L.

Ava smiled back and hugged her tightly.

“You’ll be okay.”

T. L hugged her back.

“Go before your bus leaves.”

Ava nodded reluctantly and climbed onto the Tribrid bus, but she kept looking out the window at T. L.

The bus doors shut.

One by one, the buses began leaving.

Soon, the noisy courtyard became nearly empty.

T. L remained standing there alone, clutching her bag.

At a distance, Schizzel watched her.

She had been watching for some time.

Something about the girl unsettled her—not in a bad way, but in a familiar one she couldn’t explain.

When the last bus disappeared, Schizzel finally walked toward her.

Her boots echoed softly against the polished stone path.

T. L looked up.

Schizzel stopped before her and offered a gentle smile.

“How are you holding up?”

T. L straightened herself.

“I’m fine.”

Schizzel tilted her head.

“That answer again.”

T. L gave a tiny awkward smile.

Schizzel looked toward the main hall.

Then back at her.

“Would you like to try one more time?”

T. L hesitated.

Her fingers tightened around her bag strap.

She swallowed.

Then nodded.

“…Yeah.”

---

Schizzel personally escorted her back to the Grand Assessment Hall.

This time, it was different.

Word had spread throughout the academy.

By the time they entered, several senior staff members had already gathered.

Technicians were at their consoles.

Senior officers stood watching.

Even the head of the technical division had come to witness the retest.

Kaiden was there.

Merson too, arms folded, clearly impatient.

As soon as T. L entered, all conversation died.

She felt every eye on her.

Merson sighed loudly.

“Well. Let’s get this over with.”

Schizzel shot him a warning look.

Merson ignored it and looked directly at T. L.

“You understand something.”

His tone was blunt.

“If you step on that platform again and nothing happens, then you have two choices.”

T. L stayed silent.

Merson continued.

“You return to your orphanage… or you stay here and join the technical unit.”

The room fell silent again.

Schizzel stepped between them slightly.

“Don’t talk to her like that.”

Merson scoffed.

“I’m being realistic.”

Schizzel turned to T. L, her tone softer.

“What he means is… even if you don’t have powers, there is still a place for you here.”

She gestured toward the upper glass section where many adults worked with screens and devices.

“We have ordinary humans in HEROES too. Engineers. Analysts. Surveillance specialists. Technicians.”

She smiled gently.

“You can still belong here.”

T. L looked at her.

That word hit hard.

Belong.

She nodded slowly.

Then turned toward the platform.

The room became so quiet that even the machines humming could be heard.

T. L stepped onto the circular scanner.

The machine activated.

Blue lights moved around her body.

The large screen flickered.

Everyone stared.

A pause.

Another pause.

Then—

Nothing.

No category.

No voice.

No reading.

Again.

One of the technicians quickly checked the system controls.

He adjusted the readings, then checked a second screen.

Then a third.

Finally he looked up.

His voice was firm.

“The system is functioning at one hundred percent.”

Merson let out a slow breath.

Kaiden looked away.

Schizzel remained expressionless, but her eyes stayed on T. L.

Merson stepped forward.

“So.”

He crossed his arms.

“What do you choose?”

T. L didn’t answer immediately.

Her mind drifted.

Back to Starhaven.

Back to Billy and Derek.

Billy’s grin.

Derek’s excitement.

Mrs. Rose hugging her tightly.

What would she tell them?

That she had been sent away?

That HEROES rejected her because she wasn’t special?

That she was never meant to be there?

No.

She couldn’t bear that.

Her fists tightened.

She looked up.

Then said quietly—

“I’ll stay.”

Everyone watched her.

T. L took a breath and spoke more clearly.

“I would like to join the technical crew.”

The room remained silent for a moment.

Then Merson nodded once.

“Alright.”

He pointed toward an older man in a silver uniform standing beside the consoles.

The man had glasses, gray hair, and a serious expression.

“See him? That’s Director Hale. Head of technical operations.”

Merson looked back at T. L.

“He’s your supervisor from now on.”

Director Hale stepped forward.

He studied her for a moment, then gave a small nod.

“Bring your belongings.”

His voice was calm but firm.

“You’ll be relocated to the technical dormitories immediately.”

T. L nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

Director Hale gestured toward the exit.

“This way.”

As T. L walked with him, Schizzel stayed where she was, watching her leave.

Kaiden noticed and walked beside Schizzel.

“You’ve been staring at her a lot.”

Schizzel didn’t answer immediately.

Her eyes never left T. L.

Finally she said quietly—

“I know.”

Kaiden frowned.

“You think there’s something unusual about her?”

Schizzel’s expression grew distant.

She answered in almost a whisper.

“I don’t know what it is…”

Then she looked away, thoughtful.

“But every time I see that girl…”

She paused.

“…it feels like I’ve lost something I should remember.”

And far down the corridor, T. L followed Director Hale toward the technical quarters—

not knowing that her story inside HEROES was only just beginning.