บท 19: Chapter 19: End of the First Day

"What are you doing? Call me to go inside your car."

Scarlet Mage stared in silence as Riley exited the mall along with his sister and two other students. It would have just been an ordinary sight, but with Riley already supposedly inside the car with her, it almost made no sense. Well, not until one remembers that she was, indeed, actually already with the most heinous supervillain in the world-- Darkday.

He is also currently inside the car.

Darkday had numerous superpowers; one just happened to be making clones of himself. That power made its debut during his final fight with Mega Woman, in which he used the clones to fight the members of the Hope Guild, causing even more damage to this country, as well as the neighboring countries.

It might not have been talked about as much now since they were in the Academy, but the damage that the fight has caused was truly devastating. If you go outside, there would still be millions of graffitis and posters-- posters of those who have violently died during the battle.

And now, that very same person who caused so much devastation… was right here in the Academy for superheroes?

Wasn't there a rigorous background check for all the students that enrolled here? Or was it bypassed since his father was one of the members of the Hope Guild?

The Academy should've done its job better, now they were stuck inside with a psychopath that could potentially kill all of them if he wanted to. The Academy was made to be impenetrable-- even having an invisible dome covering its entirety, completely bomb and projectile proof.

It also has a 3-meter thick gate and wall-- even the underground is covered.

And now, the very same security that was supposed to be defending them from outside forces is the very same cage that locked them inside with a madman. But perhaps it was a good thing that she came to know this?

Darkday would have spent his days here, without anyone knowing who he truly was. But now that she knows of his true identity, she just needed to find a way to expose him without him knowing. No matter how strong he was, he was only one man.

"What are you doing? Call my clone inside, they're leaving."

"Kh!"

Scarlet Mage could not help but feel a little tinge of pain coming from her right abdomen; she quickly looked towards it, only to find that half of Riley's index finger was embedded through to it, "Call my clone."

"R… Riley!"

And with that, Scarlet Mage had no other choice but to do Riley's bidding; and as soon as she called for him, the clone immediately ran towards her car, not even saying its farewell towards Hannah and the others.

"Drive," Riley said as soon as his clone got inside the car.

"W… where?"

"Drop me off at the dorms, I don't want to walk anymore."

"O… okay?" Scarlet Mage looked through her rear-view mirror, only to see Riley's clone slowly melting and being seemingly absorbed by Riley. She truly was a fool.

Where was the cute, pure, and innocent student she once saw? Riley was nothing but pure evil, even his powers were now reflecting that.

"What… are you?" Scarlet Mage still gathered the courage to talk as she proceeded to drive away, "What… what are you planning?"

"I am human, just like the rest of you," Riley Ross let out a sigh as he rested his head on the window, "As for what I am planning, I initially had none-- as I said in the broadcast, I am retired."

"Your… your father, did he have--"

"Bernard Ross is completely unaware of my true identity; so don't talk to him," Riley muttered, "Also, I need you to get information about Mega Woman."

"W… what?"

"I need to know her current status, where she is, what they have done to her, or if she is still alive."

"Can't… you get your clones to do it for you?"

"Albinos like me are even rarer than Supers; they would quickly be noticed."

"You… can't change the way you look?"

"Ew, no. That's a disgusting power."

"..." And cloning yourself is not? Scarlet Mage wanted to say, but didn't, "Why… do you want to know about Mega Woman?"

"Because I think they are doing something to her," Riley then leaned his head beside the front seat, making Scarlet Mage even more uncomfortable, "It was a mistake giving her back to the government, I should have just stored her along with the others… I regret what I have done."

"With… the others?"

"Don't worry, you will never get the pleasure of meeting them," Riley then leaned back to his seat once again, "They are quite a noisy bunch."

Them? Was Riley not working alone? Did Darkday actually have some sort of group he belonged to? This is good… this is truly good. She was learning more and more about Darkday, perhaps this happened for a reason.

Perhaps… it was even her destiny to one day defeat Darkday?

And so, feeling a little lighter than she did before, Scarlet Mage aka Katherine Read, continued to drive her way towards the male dorms, dropping off the most heinous supervillain in the entire world.

"Remember what I said, gather information about Mega Woman," Riley said before getting out of the car, "If you don't, then your mother will suffer the consequences."

"Just please get out of my car."

"Thank you for driving me, Scarlet Mage," Riley then let out a small smile as he stepped out of the car and closed the door; not even glancing back as he casually entered the dorms.

"Ho…" And as soon as Riley's presence was gone, Scarlet Mage's breaths instantly became erratic, her hand falling from the steering wheel as she rested her head on it. This was really happening, she thought.

Darkday is in the Academy, and she was the only one that knows it. What if someone else discovers his true identity? Wouldn't Riley think she exposed him? What if Riley just suddenly decides to get out of his so-called retirement? Was he going to kill everyone here?

Numerous thoughts were racing through Scarlet Mage's head-- but there was one that was most prevalent.

She was going to be working with Darkday from now on. Perhaps… there might even be a chance to change him? Turn him into a better person?

With that thought, Scarlet Mage let out a long and deep breath. At least she had some assurance that Darkday would not be able to get out of the Academy-- if worse comes to worst, maybe the Academy had some sort of contingency plan to bury all of them here, along with Darkday.

Scarlet Mage then drove away, thinking that Darkday may be watching her… but she was also watching him.

"Huh… mom?"

Scarlet Mage's thoughts were then disrupted as her mobile phone rang. Unlike the students, who were given new phones that are only usable inside the Academy's perimeter, the staffs were able to keep their personal phones, allowing them to call people outside.

"Hello, Ma? Why are you calling at this time?"

[Kathy, there's a young man here… he said he was your friend? I didn't want to be rude since he seems to know you... intimately.]

"...What?" Hearing her mother sounding somewhat playful, Scarlet Mage could not help but furrow her eyebrows as she parked her car to the side of the road.

[Yes, I must say, your taste in men is quite… peculiar. Wait, I will let you guys talk while I prepare him some coffee. Would you like some coffee, dear?]

[I don't drink coffee, madam. Perhaps soda?]

"Who is with you, mother?" Scarlet Mage's eyebrows furrowed even further as the other voice on the line seemed awfully familiar to her.

[Wait, you talk to him while I go fetch us something to drink. Riley, can you talk to Kathy for a while?]

[Of course.]

"!!!"

[Hello Kath.]

"Y… you? What are you…" Once again, Scarlet Mage's breath filled the entire car as they started drumming erratically.

[Your mother is quite lovely.]

"Why… how… how are you there?"

Listening to Riley from the other side of the line, his monotonous voice became even more ominous; Scarlet Mage was not seeing Riley, but Darkday's mask.

[I am not really here, this is just a clone I left before moving into the Academy.]

"W… what?"

[Well, please do your best in the Academy. I will take care of Leslie, so please focus on getting information about Mega Woman. Good luck.]

"W… wait--"

[Let me help you there, Leslie.]

[Oh my, you don't have to.]

Before Scarlet Mage could finish her words, the other side hung up.

"Fuck… fuck… fuck!"

Scarlet Mage hit her horn several times as she tried dialing back, but no one was no longer answering. She wanted to call the other Supers she knew outside, but what could they do?

She was wrong, she was truly wrong. Riley Ross looked young so she thought there was a chance for him to change-- but she always forgets one crucial thing.

Riley Ross is Darkday…

...and she was now working for him.

***

"Pft."

Riley Ross was now inside his dorm room; spacious, but unnecessary dark. Each student of the academy was provided a private room, as one could not really have two super teenagers sharing a room together. And like the rest of the Academy, their rooms were also well protected; and also seemingly soundproof, as Riley's laugh just bounced from the walls.

Riley's hands were trembling as he stood in the darkness, his smile still growing from the small laughter that escaped from his mouth.

"This… is quite fun, isn't it?"

And so ends the first day of Riley's little adventure in Mega Academy. Truly, he was looking forward to the days to come.