The ‘Prologue’

I didn't expect Pedro to be this capable. He managed to finish the task I assigned him much earlier than anticipated. I had a feeling he'll fail at 50% and succeed beyond his deadline at 49% and succeed within the deadline at 1%.

It's just a feeling though. So it's not reliable. I was only speaking with percentages to make myself look smarter. Anyways, Pedro makes me proud.

What I didn't expect though was the aftermath… Cain Wiz Solomon was suspected as the serial killer of the recent massacre, and if you think about it for some time, you'll realize it makes sense.

Cain was bipolar with battle manic tendencies. Not to boot, he gets overly violent if his cleanliness was violated. If you were to ask a stranger if Cain were responsible for the serial killings last night, I am confident 99% will say he did.

That's how unpopular Cain was… Even Pierre has it better despite his nasty personality. Pierre at least has a faction of his own, but Cain? He's just weird.

Was it just me, or was it that Cain looked in Pedro's direction with a curious inspection?

No way, Cain knows? Hmmm… If he rats on Pedro, I'll definitely throw Pedro to the pits and just be done with it. Sheesh… Looks like a valuable pawn has become less valuable.

…

Lunch.

Pedro and I sat by a far corner.

"The curfew will be amped up, so we'll continue the formal meeting tomorrow morning, 6:00 am at the earliest," I whispered to Pedro.

Pedro nodded with a slight frown, and his brows rose a bit. I can't blame him. He must be burdened with guilt. Sorry for you and Cain… I really need those people dead.

Aside from being members of extended organizations, most of them can become a strong motivator for my new recruits… he he he… my malice heart was shaking in excitement.

Sometimes, I can really be evil huh? Don't get me wrong, I love being mean. Teasing people, making them squirm… of course not in a sadistic way… I am just saying, a crazy man has to have his own pastime, right?

Sooner, Heather, Trom, and Nika gathered at our table. It surprised me a bit.

I started with a friendly cry, particularly singling Heather out from the group. "Heya~ friends… How were you doing? Heather? Still getting fat?"

"Fuck you." She angrily replied.

Heather was used to crass language as she was a peasant, but as a proper lady, she rarely resorts to them. In fact, the peasant lass has promised herself to never cuss again after enrolling herself in Heromaker.

Too bad, Heather met me.

"Hey, Nika? Want a lollipop?" I asked the brown chocolate-skinned girl as I extend a lollipop to her.

"No one wants your candies!" Heather slapped my hand away, ugh… No class at all…

Trom smirked and opened his dirty mouth. "Don't be like that, Heather. Maybe Alfir just wants someone to pop his lollipop, how about you do it, Heather?" And like always, Trom never gets tired of green-minded jokes.

"Shut your filthy mouth!!" Heather swiftly took the lollipop that was innocently lying on the table. She shoved it at Trom's mouth.

"Gklu-kriuuu~~ pweh! Pweh!! Pwe~h!" Trom harshly coughed as he spat the damning lollipop. "What were you doing, crazy woman!? If you were going to shove me a lollipop, you have to peel off the skin first! And you shouldn't be harsh at shoving it inside me, it hurts my throat a lot."

"E~eeew!! Disgusting!"

The two continued to bicker, the slightly gloomy cafeteria started to brighten a bit. Since the news of the serial killing, the atmosphere has become gloomy. I don't know if the two fools in front of us were expressly doing this to lift the mood.

I for one, know that Trom was not the kind of guy that would tease Heather.

"So Trom, what are you doing here? Aren't you usually with your gang during lunch breaks? You know to catch up with them as you were in a separate class." I started the topic offhandedly.

"Ugh… That's a bit difficult now."

"Why? It's not like someone died in your lovely family, right?" That's kind of morbid, but I'm right, right?

"…"

At the group's silence, Trom scratched the side of his head unsure of how he should structure his words.

"They are kind of afraid of me right now. There was a crazy theory going rounds in the school that an elitist caused it."

"Why?" Heather asked not understanding the point. She's a peasant and Trom was from the slums, there was no way they can be labeled as part of the elitism movement.

Nika out of the blue suddenly spoke her piece. "It's because no one died from Class-A, our class. Do recall, we were what was referred to as elites in this academy." She was soft-spoken, but there was a distinct resolve in her voice.

"Isn't that too cruel?" Heather exasperatedly grumbled under her breath.

13 students, one each for every class… It felt too coincidental. Well, I knew better. I am its mastermind, duh?

"Hey, what about Hitch Hoppity-something? I don't remember his surname." I voiced out to the group. I felt Pedro shudder slightly.

Trom put his fingers under his chin in deep thought. "Hitch Hofferman… Come to think of it, I haven't seen that guy…"

Lunch ended, classes continued… and the night came. The Heromaker Academy's students trembled in fear as they endure the night while sleepless. They were afraid that they would be the next.

Finally, the cold morning came. On the academy's rooftop, I sat by the stone bench waiting for Pedro's arrival. That guy might not look like it, but Pedro lives for revenge.

I've seen what lies in the gaps in his memories through Zia's empathic abilities. Zia and my abilities were the antitheses of each other, but because of what happened in the Tournament Setup, it became like this… Somehow, our mutation can now work in tandem which allowed me to peer at Pedro's few memories… Specifically, the traumas.

After waiting for more, Pedro finally came. He looked pale, but not scared. Hmmm… So, was this the power of guilt? It's totally on a different level compared to fear.

To suppress an emotion meant amplifying the others… This includes the sense of justice, one's conscience, etcetera depending on what emotion was being given up.

I'd love to dissect Pedro.

Sadly, I don't have the qualifications to do so… It was just a passing thought… Heck, I can't even tell what a human liver was like… And if you were to ask me to draw a heart, I'd definitely draw something you'd easily get from stickers.

I turned my back from Pedro remaining seated on the cold stone bench. I watched the sun rise slowly as its warm rays hit upon me.

"Become the prologue, my Prologue. The start of everything, of the story of strengths and the preaching of the strong. Join me. Together, let's get stronger. We will fight the world with you as my vanguard."

Power, that's what I can offer him. And that's what Pedro desires. I turned around, stood, approached him, and looked him in the eye.

"So, what says you?"

In a deep and ominous voice, I asked Pedro what his decision will be.