Not An Illusion

The next day at the academy the boys begin sparring to test their power when the professor interrupts

Professor Garvis: Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt but we have additional students coming to attend.

Emmanuel: More students!?

Demetrius: Coming here? 

Emmanuel: Sounds awesome. You here that Lionel more students on the way

Lionel: So theirs more like us and they're on their way here.

Professor Garvis: Calm down boys, they'll be here soon. I want you guys to behave and NO FUNNY BUSINESS!!!!

(Their nerves begin to shake as they stand at attention)

The boys: YES SIR!!!!

(Knock, knock)

Professor Garvis: That must be them now. Well hello

Grace: Hi there!!!

Nadia: What's up?

Professor Garvis: Welcome to the academy, allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Garvis and I am in charge of the academy. These are my students, Emmanuel, Demetrius, and Leonidas.

Emmanuel: Hello

Demetrius: Nice to meet you both

Lionel: I prefer to be called Lionel

Grace and Lionel shake hands and instantly Grace goes through a trans

Grace: "You're no stranger to pain. People have hurt you, people you cared about deeply. Even now you weep over what's transpired".

Lionel: What the hell?

The boys: Woa!!!!!!!

Nadia: That's enough Grace! Sorry about that. My sister thinks she's some psychic

(Perspiration runs down Lionel's forehead. His mind scrambles as he tries to comprehend Graces' bold statement)

Lionel: Who is this girl? How does she know all this?

(Nadia glances up towards Lionel and notices a marking on his chest. She walks towards him and exposes the marking.)

Lionel: Woah, hey !!!!

Nadia: You're one  of them

(Lionel looks down at Nadia's hand)

Lionel: So are you

Nadia: The marking of the Leo

Lionel: Judging by the marking you're Pisces

Grace: Yup, that's both me and my sister

The boys: Both?

Lionel: That's different

Professor Garvis: Hmm, can't say I can recall there being two people given the same zodiac powers. But nonetheless, you are zodiacs sent here to unlock your true potential to protect the earth.

Professor Garvis: I'll finish the paperwork for the girls, how about you boys show them around?

Demetrius: Yeah we can do that

Emmanuel: Sure thing

Lionel: I don't see why not

Professor Garvis: And remember boys, NO FUNNY BUSINESS!!!!

(Their nerves begin to shake as they stand at attention)

The boys: YES SIR!!!!

(The fellas show Nadia and Grace around campus. They stop at the cafeteria where they discuss being zodiacs.)

Emmanuel: So how did you two find out you were zodiacs?

Demetrius: Manny!

Emmanuel: What? It was just a question. My bad if I offended you.

Nadia: It's ok to ask, it's one of the first things I would ask too. We found out when we were able to interpret dreams.

Demetrius: Really?

Emmanuel: That sounds pretty cool

Lionel: Until you start interpreting nightmares

Grace: That's what ended up happening

The boys: Huh?

Nadia: I had a dream that my mother who was devastated about our mother's death prayed to the gods to find happiness again. But something went wrong and turned into a monster.

Emmanuel: What do you mean by monster?

Grace: When our mom died, our dad lost the will to live. He prayed to find love again but the love he found was not natural

Nadia: It was deviant. I didn't want to believe it but when I couldn't ignore the signs anymore.

Demetrius: What was going on with him?

Nadia: He was preying on children

(The news sent chills down everyone's spine leaving them in a state of shock)

Demetrius: SO he started pursuing little kids?

Emmanuel: That's not cool at all

Lionel: Hoe the hell do you go from loving your wife to being a child molester?

Nadia: It was the gods! He prayed to find love and became... that

Lionel: The gods have a funny way of granting wishes

Nadia: That's why I hate them

Grace: Huh? No Nadia! No! You can't say that. It's because of them that we have these powers.

Nadia: And its because of them that dad became a monster. These powers are not a gift, they're a curse! The effect of the tragedy that's transpired. 

Grace: Nana

Nadia: Don't

Nadia: Don't act as you understand. To find out that your father is pedophile, preying on children; harming them. I couldn't fathom what was happening and I feared that what's stopping him from making us his next targets?

(A river of tears flows from Nadia's feet to the middle of the room. With a clenched fist, Lionel gets up and walk towards Nadia.)

Lionel: You can't carry that kind of weight.

Nadia: Huh?

Lionel: You think all this happened to you as some sort of punishment but it's not, trust me I know the feeling. My parents died in a house fire; shortly after I was chosen as the next Leo. I went through hell just trying to figure my powers and learning to control them. I thought they were a curse but now I see it as a blessing 

Nadia: How on earth can you call it a blessing?

Lionel: Cause I was able to meet people like you. Which means I'm not the only one given abilities whos had it rough.

(An expression of awe takes over Nadia's face.)

Nadia: I never thought of it that way

Professor Garvis: Sounds like everyone's getting along. How was the tour?

Grace: It was great. The boys made it a lot of fun!!!!

Professor Garvis: Glad to hear. How bout you, Nadia?

Nadia: It was... Nice

Professor Garvis: Well Ill show you too to your rooms then.

Nadia: Sure. Oh, Lionel?

Lionel: Hm?

Nadia: Thank you

(Professor Garvis leans towards Lionel and pats his back)

Garvis: I heard what you said. That was a kind thing that you did. Being able to calm one's nerves is a sign of being a leader.

Lionel: She was gonna drive herself crazy if she continued to carry that weight. The best thing for her is to move forward. As we all should

(Lionel walks away with a strut that exuviates his sense of satisfaction for completing a good deed.) 

Gravis: Alright boys, get some rest. Got a big day ahead of us

Demetrius: You don't have to tell me twice

Emmanuel: I could some rest after whats transpired today

(Garvis stares at Lionel as he acknowledges his actions.)

Garvis: That boy is a rare case. A rare combination of strength and smarts. Most importantly, he has a voice that makes others want to listen. Someday he might be able to make a difference in this corrupted country of ours. May the gods be with him.

(A voice echoes)

"Move forward, move forward, move forward"

Elaina: "Huh? That voice? It's Lionel! he has to be close". "His voice keeps echoing louder and louder. I can sense his aura." "Don't worry, Lionel just hang on a little longer."

(Elaina notices a school, in the far distance)