Chapter 2 – “Half a Departure... and Something Explodes”

  The clock read 7:45. Axel was standing in front of the bathroom mirror, combing his hair with wet fingers because he couldn’t find the brush—and didn’t really feel like looking for it either. His backpack sat by the door, puffed up like he was heading off to war, not just his first day at the Hero Academy.

  “Are you sure you're not forgetting anything?” Anastasia asked from the hallway, throwing on her jacket in a rush.

  “I don't know... a katana? A will, just in case I don’t make it back?”

  “Oh, hilarious. You should sign up for a donkey contest—your face alone would win it.” She appeared in the doorway, adjusting her bag. “They just called me in last minute. I won’t be able to come with you. Sorry, Axel. I’ll make it up to you next time…”

  “It’s fine,” he interrupted, trying to sound cool. “You’re not my mom. I wasn’t expecting you to come anyway.”

  “Hey, that’s uncalled for. I raised you like I was, you ungrateful little rock with legs.”

  Axel didn’t answer but gave her a half-smile. The kind he used when he wanted to say "thanks" without actually saying it.

  “Hurry up, Sofi!” Luisa yelled from the kitchen. “You’re going to be late, and your teacher’s going to scold us!”

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  “I don’t wanna go to school! I wanna go with Axel!”

  “I can’t take you anymore, Sofi. I have to go to school now too,” he said, peeking down the stairs. “Sorry, little one. No other choice.”

  As he came down, he saw his brother-in-law Hernán heading out, motorcycle helmet in hand.

  “You’re not gonna wish me luck?” Axel asked with mock outrage.

  “Good luck. Don’t break anything. Or break everything—just do it with style,” Hernán said with a grin before heading out the door.

  Luisa kissed him on the cheek as she passed, carrying a pink backpack and a giant lunch container.

  “If I don’t leave now, I’ll be late. So you're going alone?”

  Axel nodded.

  “On foot—clears my head.”

  “Be careful. No picking fights!”

  “Don’t worry, grandma. I haven’t even started yet.”

  And just like that, with no grand farewell, he stepped outside. The morning was chilly, but the sun was trying to shine through a clear sky. He walked a few blocks in silence, watching the city slowly come to life. Cars, delivery drones, people in work uniforms, and even the occasional weirdo in a cape training in the park.

  That’s when it happened.

  A loud, sharp blast echoed from several blocks away. Windows rattled, and car alarms went off all at once.

  Axel froze. His first instinct was to run the other way. But something inside him—curiosity, recklessness, or maybe that thing they call a hero’s instinct—made him turn and head toward the smoke rising in the distance.

  “What the hell was that...?” he muttered, picking up the pace.

  He didn’t know what he was going to find. He only knew one thing: for some reason, his heart was beating louder than ever.