Seltron Super Academy

[Skyfyre]

I opened my eyes instantly, the alarm clock blaring by my ears. This was the day, the big one. Throwing the covers aside, I pressed the off button on my alarm and swung out of bed. It's hard to stay calm, but I know that getting overly excited or panicked won't help. Besides, it's not like I haven't prepared enough for this day. My bags and suitcase lay at the foot of my bed, almost fully packed, save for the last few supplies I'd need to use this morning before packing them up.

Moving swiftly to the bathroom, I began my routine, brushing my teeth and getting ready. It's kind of funny, I realized; I haven't needed to brush my teeth, comb my hair, etc., ever since I got this power seven years ago. Still, these routines served a purpose. Namely, making me appear more normal and helping calm down others around me, like my parents. Almost 60 years into the emergence of powers and people are still unused to them. It'd be tragic if it didn't let me hide things so well.

I finished brushing my teeth and eyed a photograph I had taken with a couple of my friends from middle school. Well, that might be a bit much. 'Associates' or even 'groupies' might be a better term for them. Alysha, Maxine, and... Gretel, right? The three of them weren't 'bad' in any sense, but I couldn't help but feel like I had attracted them because of my powers and status.

I looked at the framed photo for a moment longer before putting it down and packing the last of my clothes. I doubted I'd talk to them after I was gone, but I had tolerated them well enough when we hung out. And if I'm being honest with myself (not like I can be honest with anyone else), I kinda like the aura of awe they hold around me.

Walking in front of a full-length mirror, I put on my outfit and gave myself a once-over. I stood at 5'6 feet, tanned, and had curly black hair with stormy grey eyes. I was wearing a pink top, a white skirt with leggings, and a matching white jacket with pink trim. A little girly, but I feel a bit girly today. Still, something felt missing, not quite right.

A ripple passed through my body, changing me from head to toe. Only slight changes; I like most of how I look, but I could do with a more 'adult' appearance. I gave myself a few more inches, sprouting up in an instant. Parents won't like it, but I'll be leaving now, so I won't have to deal with any complaints for a while. I lightened my eyes a shade or two as well, making them closer to light blue. The hair was a bit more drastic, but changing that up was commonplace. I made it grow out a bit to my mid-back and turned it blonde. Holding it up like a ponytail for a moment. I liked it, but tweaked it a bit more, changing it with another ripple that made it light brown. Cute, capable, and ready to take on the world... hopefully not literally, but if so, nothing I haven't managed before. Nodding at my new appearance, I smiled and headed down the stairs for breakfast.

"Hey mom, what's for breakfast?" I said to Willow Einsburgh as I entered the kitchen. It was a cozy kitchen, filled with signs of family and warmth, with Willow by the stove, flipping some bacon expertly as she moved back and forth easily around the dishes she was making.

Willow tossed me a half glance as she focused on plating the food. "There you are, Camila. I was worried for a moment that you'd be late for your first day," she chided.

Willow was a fair bit shorter than me, her auburn hair cut short with a bit of gray coming in at the roots, undetectable to most with how she dyed her hair. I wondered sometimes if Willow was jealous of her daughter for having the ability to never look old, to hide any signs of age as I saw the wrinkles grow slightly more pronounced on her over the years. Though given the ways Willow would sometimes quickly glance at circles or other iconography around the house when she saw me after a drastic change or would warn me to 'remain on the path of righteousness,' it was at most half that and half fear.

"I'm fine, Mom," I groused. "I had pretty much everything packed two days ago, and it won't be for another hour till I have to leave."

"I suppose so. I just want to make sure you didn't run into any trouble or forget anything and then have to leave in a panic." She finished moving the bacon out from the pan and onto a nearby plate. "Here you go, honey, triple of all your favorites - which is everything." Willow joked as she lay down the plates piled high with hash browns, bacon, eggs, pancakes, and scones at the small table in the kitchen. I did my best not to drool at the sight and looked up at Willow, smiling widely.

"Thanks, Mom, this is great!" I ate more than most due to my powers, but this was still a spread far larger than I could usually get. Looking up at Willow, I grinned and realized that despite the misgivings Willow sometimes had for me, the fears and concerns, she really cared for her daughter. Willow and her husband, Jarred, both worked hard to support me, even if they didn't always understand me (even the parts I did try and share with them). I felt guilty about it for a moment before digging into the food laid out in front of me. It was too late to do anything about that now, so it was time to focus on enjoying the food.

I'm glad to have this experience. Despite any friction we've had, she's shown me a good deal of love and guidance. Even if unnecessary for me, it helps give me a better idea of how to fit in as a regular student, which will be incredibly important.

One delightful breakfast later, I stretched back in my chair, feeling contented but still excited for the day to come. Willow and I hovered around each other for about ten minutes, getting our farewells ready, but it wasn't really the time for it yet, about an hour until the bus came by. I went back upstairs to 'finish packing my things' (1 minute) and played on my phone (all the other minutes). It was the latest SuperTech™ Cape type. Usually, I cared little for the 'latest and greatest' tech advancement, quite fine with my brick cellphone before, but it had been a gift for the latest birthday, which had only been a couple of days after my acceptance letter had come in.

At least it was very durable even while slim and advanced, something SuperTech™ prided themselves on - 'You could fight a demon or drop it soaring through the skies; SuperTech won't break!' as the slogan went. Comes with a sky-high price tag too, though. They actually seemed to deliver on their claims at least, even to my discerning eye. I couldn't find any spots of weakness, and even the touchscreen could fall on a pointy object from a couple of stories up (seen from videos; I'd never tried such a thing myself), and it never caused anything more than the lightest of scratches. I hoped they'd allow me to keep it with me at the academy.

Thinking about my acceptance letter, I picked it up from where it sat on my bedside table. 'You've been accepted to join Seltron Academy!' It read at the top of the page. The letter went on to explain how it was a school for Empowered individuals, to develop their powers, obtain a great education, learn deep moral values, blah blah blah.... It was a superhero school, basically. Seltron 'Super' Academy as it was already being called around the internet.

I tucked the letter into my pocket. It wasn't necessary or anything; I knew the school would already know who I am, obviously, but it still. This had been my dream, one of my biggest ones. Being a superhero was something I had hoped for since... I can barely even recall how long it's been. Since I was a kid at least.

Fiddling with my phone had me figure out a few features I hadn't paid attention to before, most of which were neat but not too interesting, like a 'calorie-burning tracker,' which was worthless thanks to my powers. I got caught up on the news around the world as well. My sites tended to be about Superhero and demon news, but I had a few focused on more general news.

Today seemed like a pretty calm day in the world, all things considered. A new virus was spreading about in Pantarion, which had some health specialists worried, but nothing too major yet, with few deaths for how virulent it was. Some minor skirmishes flaring up in the East, but details murky as of yet. I wonder how Mirashi's handling things over there. Last I heard, she was up to her old tricks thereabouts.

And of course, in the Sallian Empire. Why do we still use that name? It became a democracy decades ago. If I'm thinking something's behind the times, it has to be out of date. Everyone here was talking about Seltron Academy. Same for most of my superhero feeds; even the retirement of Hammer from the Miracle Squad barely made a blip with the news that had been surrounding the school in the past weeks.

I knew it was a big deal, but it was still surprising to see so much talk and speculation here. Almost no one knew where it was, for the safety of the students... which extended even to me, as the letter hadn't come with any directions, just the fact that there would be transportation to pick me up today. Even came with a non-disclosure agreement to ensure I wouldn't tell anyone about it afterwards. Heh, well, I can keep a secret; I've been doing so for almost all my life. If they ever find out the truth about me... well, I like living, so best to keep my true abilities under wraps.

I grabbed my bags and headed downstairs when I heard the front door open. Moving around the kitchen and through the living room, I saw Jarred Einsburgh, standing in his regular business suit. Jarred was almost as tall as I was, with salt and pepper hair and green eyes.

"Dad, I didn't think you'd be able to make it," I said. Indeed, we had all thought he'd be busy with work, so I said my goodbyes to him yesterday.

"Managed to get my coffee and lunch break moved around a bit to see off my baby girl," he said, opening his arms to hug me. I embraced him and then saw Willow standing behind him and hugged her too.

"Thank you guys so much. I love you, and I'm going to make you proud." I was certain of it; I'd be the best hero the world ever saw, bigger than even the Miracle Squad. And wouldn't that just grind that man's gears? To see me succeed where he failed.

I mentally shook my mind free of those thoughts, not wanting the hate of the past to taint this moment here. "We know you will. Now let's see if I can give you a hand with those bags." Jarred walked over and tried to heft my largest suitcase up, wheezing from the effort. "What did you fill these with, rocks?" He asked, bewildered at the weight.

I scratched the back of my head sheepishly, not having wanted to cause Jarred to throw out his back further (I could almost see the vertebrae in his spine shifting as he tried to manage it), but knowing that his fatherly pride wouldn't let me take it off his hands, even though I had packed them with only the thoughts of carrying them myself. I'm pretty happy with that motion, though. For some reason it's hard for me to portray 'modest and eager' correctly.

"Just a bunch of books and clothes, really. Mostly books, a lot of good biology and chemistry ones in there." Interesting fields on their own, but absolutely vital for my powers.

"Uff. I don't remember," he panted for a bit as he dragged the suitcase outside. "You having this many books," he finished, placing my suitcase down on the boulevard and looking tired but proud of himself. I don't really get that, as I could have carried them all by myself without breaking a sweat, but whatever.

Willow came up to her husband's side and gazed lovingly at their daughter. "Camila, we know you'll do great, and we'll always love you, but just... if anything, anything ever seems wrong to you about this place, you can come back to us right away. And let us know if you need any-" I cut her off by hugging her and Jarred.

"I know you worry, and I appreciate it, but really, I'll be fine. I've been open about my powers for years, and nothing bad happened to me then. This is supposed to be the safest, best school in basically the world." I pulled away from them as I heard the bus approaching. Finally. I turned to look at it.

It was... rather underwhelming, just looking like an ordinary orange school bus at first glance. Looking deeper however, I could tell it was pretty advanced. The wheel axis had additional stabilizers, the tires were thick, and though the frame looked normal to the untrained eye, I could tell it was far heavier duty than and tougher than most armored vehicles had. Even the windows were bulletproof, and all while looking completely normal. Anonymity while still keeping up protection, just for the bus designed to pick up the students to the school, the government really wasn't taking any risks here.

The driver stopped by their house and came out from the bus to take my bags. His clothes were a bit loose, but I suspected he had a fair bit of muscle there given how easily he moved the heavy bags to the storage area. Also, there was an odd bulge or two - odd as in a firearm or other concealed weapons, not anything else - so probably not an average bus driver (though it didn't seem like much would be 'average' with this school).

"Alright, it looks like it's time. I love you, I said again as I stepped onto the bus steps, waving goodbye to Jarred and Willow. They waved back, Willow somewhat tearfully, and I turned away, heading towards my destiny.

Spoiler: A/N:

Hello, and welcome to my new story. This story will be a bit darker than my Pokemon fic with plenty of mystery and action to uncover. If you like it, please consider becoming a member on Patreon to get early access to the next ten upcoming chapters, or Kofi (just to be kind). I'm going to try to avoid giving things away with this story to preserve some of the mystery, but everything should make sense in time. I hope you enjoy this story, thank you.