**Chapter 9** The Aftermath

 10 seconds. That's all Exalibar had before his body would shut down. 10 seconds that could mean the difference between life and death. But for the first time in a long while, Exalibar felt hope. The last thing he saw before his vision faded was Ronin, the former world's strongest hero, stepping onto the scene. Exalibar knew everything would be all right now. All he had to do was wait.

Ronin had sworn off the life of a hero. After his wife, Valery, was critically injured, he had retired to care for her, leaving behind the world of capes and villains. But when the military called, informing him of stolen hardware and a situation too dangerous for ordinary forces, he could not ignore it. At first, he refused. He had left that life behind. But then he turned on the news and saw Exalibar—the boy who had unintentionally ended Valery's career—fighting Gauntlets, putting his own life on the line to protect others.

As a parent, as an adult, Ronin felt compelled to help. Donning his suit one last time, he rushed out of the house and flew to the bank. When he arrived, he was met with the gruesome sight of Gauntlets' severed head lying on the ground. The boy had done the impossible. But Ronin's hero instincts told him there were more robbers inside the bank. He dashed in, ready for a fight, only to find the remaining criminals tied up and Aisha using her alchemy to repair the damage.

"Had Exalibar dispatched the initial robbers before dealing with Gauntlets?" Ronin wondered. It seemed unlikely—the boy wouldn't have had enough time. Then it hit him. Aisha. His daughter, who had always expressed zero interest in becoming a hero, was standing there, her hands glowing as she worked. Why now? And why with Exalibar, the boy who had forced him and Valery into early retirement? The questions swirled in his mind, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Aisha noticed her father spacing out and shook his arm gently. "Dad? Dad?"

Ronin blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Oh, Aisha…"

"You kind of spaced out there," she said, her green eyes filled with concern. "Is everything alright?"

Ronin forced a smile. "Yeah, just… taking in all the heroic work you've done here. This was you, right?" Aisha's face lit up with pride. "Oh, definitely! You know, I never wanted this hero stuff, but today… wow, just WOW. Let me tell you how I stopped them!" She launched into an animated explanation, her excitement palpable. "When Exalibar launched himself out with Gauntlets, I quickly made four walls to protect the people, just in case. Then I ran into the vault, and this guy shot at me—can you believe it? His aim was terrible, though, so he missed. I hit him with a pillar straight out of the ground, knocked him into the roof, and then removed all the oxygen from the room to knock out the rest. Oh, and don't worry—I made a mask so I could breathe. I'm actually thinking of joining the hero stuff now, but maybe staying on the sidelines. I mean, can you imagine if I came here alone? I'd probably be seriously injured—or worse!"

Ronin listened, a mix of pride and worry swelling in his chest. This was a side of Aisha he rarely saw. She had always admired her mother but never admitted to wanting to follow in her footsteps, knowing the risks. Now, standing in the middle of a bank she had helped save, Aisha was glowing with the kind of excitement Ronin hadn't seen in years.

As Ronin pondered how to break the news to Valery, Exalibar stumbled into the bank, his body battered but healing. He looked around, taking in the scene. The robbers were tied up, the hostages were safe, and Aisha was beaming with pride. It was a job well done. "Did you guys know there were news helicopters recording my fight with Gauntlets?" Exalibar asked, his voice weak but laced with humour. He turned to Ronin, his blue eyes filled with respect. "Ah, Ronin. How are you, sir? How is Mrs. Valery's recovery coming along?"

Ronin's expression softened. "Her recovery is coming along well. The doctors say she will be able to do menial tasks on her own in a few weeks, but they don't expect her to return to hero work."

Exalibar's face fell. "I'm so sorry to hear that, sir."

Ronin waved a hand dismissively. "It's quite alright, young man. She was looking for a way to retire anyway." He chuckled, though there was a hint of sadness in his voice. "And by the way, yes, they recorded your fight. That's how I knew where to go and rushed here as soon as I could."

Aisha's excitement faded as a new worry crept in. "Oh no, this is bad. Very, very bad. If people saw how powerful Exalibar is, he'll be expelled from school. Powerhouses like him aren't allowed to attend our institution asides from the exception of us and Jake."

Ronin placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'll put in a good word. It'll be alright."

"I hope so, because I'm not looking for another school for you," said James as he stepped out of his car, his voice carrying a mix of relief and exasperation. He rushed over to Exalibar, his eyes scanning the boy for injuries. "Are you okay my boy? Did he hurt or break anything?"

Exalibar raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'm fine, James. Just a few cuts and scrapes."

James wasn't convinced. He spent the next five minutes conducting a thorough inspection, followed by ten minutes of full-body scans using a portable device from his car. Finally, he sighed in relief. "No serious injuries. Aisha's unharmed, and Exalibar's healing up nicely. But this is not over."

For today, they had won. But tomorrow, they faced an even bigger battle: the school board of directors. Exalibar's display of power had been broadcast to the world, and the rules were clear. Students with overwhelming abilities were not allowed to attend regular schools. If the board decided to expel him, it would mean losing the fragile sense of normalcy he had fought so hard to achieve.

As they drove back to the facility, Exalibar leaned his head against the window, his mind racing. He had faced Gauntlets, survived without a heart, and even impressed Ronin. But the thought of losing his place at school—of losing the life he was starting to build—was a battle he wasn't sure he could win.

**To Be Continued…**