Chapter 9 - Hero of the Sun

Hovering over the checkpoint, the hero Daybreak, the light bouncing off his form, levitates downwards towards the fallen Dahlia, still looking up at him in bewilderment. He reaches his hand out to hold hers who takes it and she is helped up. Lemon and Tsumi rush to Dahlia, to check if she is hurt.

"Are you alright young lady?" Daybreak asks, his voice deep and gentle.

"Uhm, yes thank you sir." Dahlia didn't know what to think. This white and gold man had struck down that man faster than the speed of light and with efficiency. 

"Good. Don't let today stain your perception of Polaris." Daybreak let go of her hand and began to float upwards and call out to the crowds of cheering people.

"Remember visitors of Polaris! You are safe here as long as I am here! Please enjoy Polaris, the superhuman capital of the world!" he boomed.

His voice was met with cheers and thanks as Daybreak soars up into the sky in a burst of light and he is gone in a flash. 

Tsumi lets out a chuckle as he supports Dahlia, "Sure nice to be given a warm welcome."

Dahlia was checked up on by a paramedic and once she was cleared, they finished going through the checkpoint and entered the island of Polaris. Once they were in, the three went to a nearby restaurant and rested at a table outside while they talked about the checkpoint.

"Yes, ham and chicken with mayo please." Tsumi said to one of the waitresses, "Thank you."

"So." said Lemon, "That's the Daybreak you wrote in your report right?"

Tsumi took a sip of some cold coffee before replying, "Yes. A man made of light so is said."

"Who is he?" Dahlia asked.

Tsumi answered, "He's the principal of the Polaris International Academy and is likely the strongest man in this world."

Lemon cuts in, "So he shoots light? Or..?" 

"He has control over solar radiation and can use it to fire beams of light. On top of that he can move by turning into solar radiation."

"So he's a walking sun? What happens if he is the faceless?" Lemon says in a slightly louder voice.

"If he was, you think a faceless would be wasting time playing hero? Especially being the strongest?" Tsumi points out.

"Fair point."

Food is eventually brought around to the three and they eat as Dahlia looks around. She can see several people her age walking around in black school uniforms with yellow lacing and a crest of a shining sun on the blazer.

"There are a lot of students here. More than what was at my academy." the girl noted.

Lemon looks around as well, "Yeah and we haven't even seen the school itself yet."

Tsumi stops eating his sandwich and motions towards the centre of the island, where a large hill is with a giant structure resting on it. "That would be it there."

Looking up the island had no buildings above five stories besides a couple of hotels. They were mostly built using stucco and terracotta but despite the rudimentary building materials, there are signs of modern technology everywhere. From cars to traffic lights to stores selling high definition televisions, the island had an old town look with a modern twist be it smooth solar panels decked on the black tile shingles or an electric scooter on cobblestone roads . 

It is to the centre of the island, the large hill, that we see a grand building. It was definitely the tallest building and looked almost out of place with the rest of the island but no less was it the central building of Polaris. It looked like Dahlia's academy in terms of architecture but the scale at which it was built was far different. The place could practically be a palace for all she knew. 

"Quite impressive." Lemon admits as she sipped some water. 

"Yes indeed it is."

An unknown voice made them turn to where its source was. They all turned to an older man with short white hair and glasses, wearing a button up shirt and tie. His face was slightly resting on being stern looking like Samuel but more so with the lack of laugh lines.

Tsumi seems to recognise him, "Ah! Professor Suzuki, it is nice to see you again." he says with a wave.

"As it is Mr. Novitin. I see you have just arrived at Polaris, I heard about an incident at the checkpoint." the older man said with a hint of concern.

"Yes. My daughter Dahlia was held hostage by a villain."

"Goodness, I hope you aren't too rattled up Miss Novitin?"

"No, it's fine. Thank you." Dahlia answered with a nod, pushing her legs together and sitting up more straight than before.

"Ah, I had not introduced myself to the rest of your family. My name is Professor Suzuki, one of the teachers at the Polaris academy." 

Lemon set down her drink, "Name's Lemon."

"Dahlia Novitin." answered Dahlia.

"Never heard of someone being called Lemon before." Suzuki noted.

"Mother was a fan of the stuff." Lemon deflected.

"I see." he nodded, "And you Miss. Novitin, I am aware you will be joining my class tomorrow?"

"Yes. I am looking forward to it." Dahlia was not aware she was looking at her professor until just then.

"It is not often we get a new student joining into the Highlight Class midway through a year."

"The Highlight Class?" Dahlia asked.

Suzuki replied, "It's a class where the top students are. But if what your report says about you and your phenomenal grades have anything to go by, you'll fit right in."

"Speaking of Professor Suzuki," Lemon begins, "will my Dahlia be participating in the Polaratus?"

"That would depend on what she wants. If she feels she can do it, make it known. Typically all of the Highlight students are forced to attend but Dahlia could opt out.."

"Well I'm sure Dahlia will be too busy to participate, right?" she said this with gritted teeth as if to indicate to Dahlia to agree to what she said.

"Uh, yes. I would be a bit too busy acclimating to prepare for the Polaratus".

"That is a shame." Suzuki replies back, a slight frown forming on his face.

As Tsumi finishes his meal he looks up to Suzuki and asks, "Mind me asking when you are showing us to our house?"

"Ah, quite observant Mr Novitin, yes I have the keys here and a map of the island, you will be at 56 Dilori Lane."

Suzuki hands over a laminated pamphlet on which is a map that marks out addresses and streets. Dilori lane is easily found on it as well as many shops, facilities and events marked out as well. 

"Thank you Professor Suzuki," Tsumi says, "we'll head over now and get settled in."

"Right. I'll leave you to that and welcome to Polaris." Suzuki greets with a small smile.

Suzuki walks away, his smile dropping. Everyone else all looks around and makes sure they are alone again before they chat some more. Lemon takes the pamphlet and comments on it.

"Are we sure this place is a city? Or even a school? It feels more and more like a resort if anything."

Tsumi finishes his drink and responds to Lemon, "I know. When I first came I thought I got the wrong place as well, not that I'm complaining."

Lemon closes the pamphlet and throws it to Tsumi, "Well if everyday is as beautiful as this then maybe this won't be as bad as I thought."

"What did he mean by my grades? I don't recall doing any exams?" pondered Dahlia.

"Ah, Alice made it so that you'd be accepted into the Highlights Class no matter what. Makes it easier for you to move around if everyone thinks you are the best." he answers.

"But surely if they check, they would find the grades false?" 

"Tsumi stood up as did the other two, getting ready to go, "If they check closely, which they won't… for a while but by then we'll be long gone."

- - -

An hour later, the three reach their abode. They opted to walk so they could get familiar with the city streets and the people around. It is a large house, built like a villa, with beautiful smooth beige stucco walls and black terracotta shingles, the building practically being a villa. There are palms and hydrangea bushes at the base of the walls as they push up their trolley to the door and into the house. 

There it was a two story house with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, living room and dining room as well as a basement with washing machines and places for storage. Once Tsumi rolls the box into the living room, he turns to Dahlia. 

"Don't say anything yet."

Dahlia wonders what he means by that but soon sees as Tsumi takes out a rectangular device and powers it on. He looks at it intensely.

"...Right… we're clear." he tucks the device away.

"Sure there aren't any superpowered abilities that can bypass a scanner?" Lemon quizzes as she began to pilfer through the kitchen.

"No but that's what the rocks are for." Tsumi says as he taps the side of his head.

Dahlia looks around as she tries to understand what to do, "Is this the 'bugs' Rika had told me to be aware of?"

"None here. Shows they don't suspect us and trust our story." Tsumi says as he begins to open the box.

The box opens and inside is a bunch of items. Twelve plant pots, a bag of seeds, a few strange pieces of equipment and medical equipment. There are bags filled with clothes that are given out.

Dahlia looks at the plant pots and talks to Lemon, "Will you be doing some gardening while here?"

"Just a tad bit." she replies, "Need to build up a few ears in the leaves to help make this go faster. This island's far too healthy for me."

Lemon takes her stuff and brings them to the back garden where she lays them out. She heads back into the house and heads to the front door, saying she will go out to get some compost to fill them with.

Over the night, the 'family' gets settled in and have dinner prepared by Lemon which was delectable. After finishing clean up, not much else is said besides Lemon and Tsumi busying themselves with settling in whilst Dahlia looked around her room for the next while. She lies down on the soft bed, the wooden supports solid and not creaking like hers back home but that didn't give her any ease. Instead she had a mountain of thoughts in her mind.

Will I be able to fit in here? I am already flustered by all of this. I mean the ocean? It was beautiful but, what Alice said. What if I mess up?

Dahlia's concerns amounted but they didn't weigh on her mind. She was sure of what she needed to do but she was scared she couldn't do it. What if the faceless is as powerful as Daybreak? Could she beat it?

I can't keep thinking like this. I'll get myself upset.

Dahlia recalls her time at the academy. She would remember being so alone all of the time because no one would ever notice her. It wasn't because she was bullied or had any bad rumours about her, she was just, alone. Even when she excelled in her classes the teachers barely even talked to her. It was like everyone kept a wide berth like she was roaring bonfire. 

For a while she thought it was just her power, the dark gift. They could somehow sense it but after all this time her mind can't help but think.

Maybe it was me. I found it hard to relate to them, even more so with how I had to keep so many secrets. Maybe this time though, I can start anew. Maybe I can make friends within Hencacount and Polaris, though Polaris would be short lived.

As Dahlia looks out her window, open and the curtains flowing as the sound of distant crashing waves are heard, she feels her eyes go heavy and rests.