Jota Morel

"Freedom seems like a distant dream when I am trapped in the daily grind, where every day is an endless repetition of schedules and expectations. In my mind, superheroes are the embodiment of true freedom, capable of breaking the chains of monotony and forging their own destiny. I wonder if there is more to life than following the path laid out for me, if I can find my own purpose and meaning in a world that seems already defined. Reality seems so... grey, while the world of superheroes is a canvas full of colours and possibilities."

Jota Morel, a 17-year-old with light brown hair that fell messily over his forehead and dark eyes that seemed to contain a deep introspection. His fair skin had a slightly tanned tone, the result of spending time outdoors. He was slim, weighing 69 kilos and standing 177 centimetres tall, which gave him an athletic and agile appearance. He is a secondary school student at Combat High School A, located in the city of Alvoria, in the Deldoria Region of the Frontier supercontinent. He is in his final year of secondary school and feels discouraged about continuing his studies.

"I enrolled in this Combat High School because I believed I would learn to become a true hero, someone who could make a difference in the world. However, what I find is an institution that focuses more on theory and self-defence than on the true essence of being a hero. Is reality just a shadow of our dreams?"

As he finished speaking, the pencil in his hand broke, and the fragments fell to the floor, producing a sharp, hollow sound that echoed through the room, as if the fragility of his hopes had become tangible.

"Professor Ryker, the combat instructor, is a ruthless and arrogant man whose presence seems to suck the energy out of the classroom. His workload is overwhelming, and rumours about his behaviour towards female students are troubling. Worse still, it seems that his friendship with Headmaster Langley allows him to act with impunity, as if he were above the law. I wonder, is it influence and power that corrupts people, or does it simply reveal their true nature? Hypocrisy and injustice seem to come at a very low price in this place, where friendship and favouritism can overshadow integrity and decency."

Jota Morel said bitterly, shaking his head in disgust.

"The Devourers are stationed on the edges of Frontier, ready to attack at any moment, and yet humanity remains the same, always seeking to profit and benefit itself, regardless of the well-being of others." 

The high-tech shield protecting the supercontinent seems to be a fragile barrier against the threat looming over humanity, and yet here the priority seems to be politics and power, rather than the safety and survival of all. It is as if the crisis they face is not enough to unite them and work together, but rather gives them excuses to continue with their pettiness and personal ambitions. 

"I'm tired of thinking about this. In the end, nothing matters." He closed his notebook with a sharp snap and left it on his dark brown wooden desk, whose grain stood out in the dim light of the room. Then he got up and walked over to his wardrobe, where several black and white sweaters and trousers hung in almost military order. On top of them, a soft white towel seemed to be waiting for him. He picked it up and slung it over his shoulder, feeling the coolness of the cotton.

"I need a cool bath and something warm. It's been really hot lately." The idea of immersing himself in cold water seemed to be just what he needed to clear his mind and forget for a moment the worries that were weighing him down. 

At that moment, just as he was about to head to the bathroom after taking the towel from his wardrobe, there was a knock at the door. His face tensed slightly at the interruption. 

"This is the third time you've knocked on my door today. What do you want now, Saida?" he asked in a tired and stressed tone of voice, bringing his hand to his head in a gesture of frustration. She opened the door and found her sister, a 16-year-old girl with long brown hair cascading down her back and somewhat large round eyes that seemed to sparkle with curiosity. Her fair skin glowed with a soft blush, and her slim build was evident in her slender figure, weighing 53 kilos and standing 165 centimetres tall. She was wearing pastel-coloured unicorn pyjamas that seemed to be her favourite, contrasting with the seriousness of the moment.

"Hahaha, why are you wearing that thing? Aren't you dying of heat?" Jota Morel clutched his stomach intensely as he laughed and pointed at her with one finger. His laughter was contagious but also irritating to Saida. The 16-year-old girl got angry and hit her brother on the head, giving him a bump on his forehead. 

"Ouch, that hurt! You hit me really hard," Jota complained, putting his hand to his head and grimacing in pain.

Saida looked away with puffed cheeks and a frown, still visibly annoyed. "That's what you get for making fun of me," she said in a firm voice, although her gaze was still a little childish. Her pastel unicorn pyjamas seemed like a funny contrast to the seriousness of her expression.

He smiled at her and approached her, placing his hand on her head and gently ruffling her hair, making Saida even more upset. 

"I'm sorry, little sister... you're so adorable," he said with a mischievous smile, "but why were you calling me earlier? Was it about our grandmother? Has she been discharged from the hospital yet?" His voice was warm and concerned, contrasting with his earlier teasing. 

Saida moved away from him, trying to smooth her tousled hair. "It's nothing like that," she said in an irritated tone, though her gaze still showed a hint of amusement. "I just wanted to ask you if you'd seen my phone charger." Her voice softened slightly at the end, making Jota feel a little guilty for teasing her earlier.

"Your charger... hmm... What a distracted girl!" Jota scratched his head, trying to remember where he had last seen the charger. "Do you remember that yesterday, Saturday, your friends Cloe and... What was the other one's name?" he asked, looking at Saida with a mischievous smile. "Yes, Emma, wasn't it? She stayed for a while and then they went to the park, didn't they?" His voice was relaxed and nostalgic, as if he were remembering a fun moment.

Saida nodded, trying to follow the thread of the conversation. "Yes, yes, Emma and Cloe came to the house and then went to the park. But what does that have to do with my charger?" Her voice was a little impatient, but Jota continued talking without noticing.

"Oh, yes, the charger... I think I saw it on the table in the living room, where your friends were sitting. Do you want me to go get it?" Jota offered, already starting to walk towards the living room. 

Jota headed for the living room, tripping over his own feet on the way.

"Careful, little sister! I'm going to find that charger as if it were a lost treasure!" Saida rolled her eyes, but couldn't help smiling.

When he reached the living room, Jota lifted the coffee table and found the charger under a cushion. 

"Eureka! I found it! The charger has been found!" Saida laughed and walked over to him.

"Thank you, Jota! You're my hero."

Jota handed her the charger with a triumphant smile.

"You're welcome, little sister. I'm an expert at finding lost things... as long as they're not in my room." Saida laughed and gave him a gentle punch on the arm.

"Don't worry, Jota. I'll forgive you this time."

"By the way, where's my towel?" asked Jota, looking around everywhere without finding his towel. His face showed a mixture of frustration and amusement.

Saida, who was nearby, laughed and gave him a sarcastic smile. 

"Are you talking about this one?" she asked, holding the towel in her hand and showing it to Jota. "You dropped it when you tripped... silly," she added, emphasising the last word with a mocking tone. 

Jota laughed and approached Saida, trying to retrieve his towel. "Ah, yes, I remember. I tripped over my own feet, as usual," he said with a self-deprecating smile. "Give me back my towel, little sister." Saida laughed and handed him the towel, and Jota wrapped it around his neck, smiling contentedly.

"Well... your big brother has a mission to accomplish, so he's off, bye." Jota quickly left the room and headed for the bathroom, shouting "See you later, little sister!" as he disappeared behind the bathroom door. Saida stood there smiling, shaking her head at the strange way her brother had said goodbye. She shrugged and sat down on the sofa. 

Suddenly, she heard the sound of the shower in the bathroom and smiled. "Mission accomplished, I guess," she said to herself, laughing softly. 

"La la la, la la la, princess! Give me your love, yes princess! I want to be like you, yes princess! I want to fly like you, yes princess! Let me reach the stars... Like you!" Jota sang as he showered, his voice off-key but full of enthusiasm. The warm water fell on his face and he closed his eyes, letting himself be carried away by the music. His voice echoed in the bathroom, making Saida laugh as she listened from the living room.

"What are you singing now?" Saida shouted from outside the bathroom, laughing. "You sound like you're in an opera!" she added, mocking her brother's voice. Jota laughed and continued singing, not caring that his sister was teasing him. 

Minutes later, Jota got out of the shower and wrapped the towel around his waist, covering his body. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, which was fogged up from the steam from the shower. With the hairdryer in his hand, he began to dry his hair while looking at himself in the mirror. The steam slowly dissipated, revealing his smiling face and tousled hair. 

As he dried his hair, Jota couldn't help but make some silly faces in the mirror, smiling and sticking out his tongue. He laughed at himself and continued drying his hair, enjoying the moment of tranquillity in the bathroom. The towel remained firmly around his waist as he moved freely, drying his hair with a smile on his face. 

Suddenly, Jota paused for a moment in front of the mirror and looked at himself with a thoughtful smile. "Sometimes it's better to be silly to be happy," he said to himself, with a deep look in his eyes. "Life is too serious not to enjoy the absurd moments," he added, laughing softly. 

At that moment, Jota knew that happiness is not always found in seriousness or perfection, but in the ability to enjoy the little moments and not take oneself too seriously. The towel around his waist and his tousled hair seemed to be the perfect reflection of that philosophy. 

"Once I finish high school and turn 18... I'll sign up for the exam at the prestigious Hero Academy [Hero Ragnarok]," Jota thought with determination, unplugging the dryer. His gaze was lost in the mirror, but his mind was focused on the future. "Their acceptance rate is less than 1 per cent," he recalled, unfazed. "It takes place once a year, in January. The dates aren't fixed, but it's around that month," he added, mentally planning his strategy to prepare.

Jota imagined himself as a hero, saving lives and protecting the innocent. The idea of joining the Hero Academy filled him with excitement and motivation. He turned and left the bathroom, ready to start working towards his goal. The towel around his waist seemed to be a symbol of his determination, a reminder that he was ready to face any challenge that came his way.

Jota walked through the corridors of his house, with the towel still around his waist, as he made his way to his room. His bare feet made a soft noise on the floor, while his mind was occupied with thoughts about his future and the Hero Academy. 

"I have exactly one year to take the exam, and to be honest and realistic, I don't feel prepared at all," Jota thought with a mixture of frustration and determination. "That stupid high school is a sham," he said to himself, shaking his head. "It taught me nothing but the basics, theory and self-defence... How do they expect me to get into Hero Ragnarok with that?" 

Jota felt cheated, as if he had been the victim of a scam. "I enrolled because it had good reviews on their website, but it was nothing but false information, manipulated by the media to promote them," he lamented. Disappointment and anger were reflected on his face as he realised he had been deceived by the school's advertising and empty promises. 

When he reached his room, Jota stopped in front of the door and leaned against the frame, looking ahead with a thoughtful expression. "I have to find a way to really prepare myself," he said to himself, with renewed determination. "I can't depend on the prep school to achieve my goals. I have to take control of my own destiny." With a deep sigh, Jota entered his room, ready to start planning his next move.

"First of all, I have to increase my RN [Break and Birth] by training the RN correctly and taking it to the next level," Jota thought with determination. "RN1... that sounds promising. According to what he had read and heard, reaching RN1 level would allow him to access higher states of consciousness and connect with other beings in a deeper way.

RN is a latent power that was awakened in people after the arrival of the [Devourers], and its growth depends on the effort and dedication each person puts into it, as well as their connection to a specific being or entity. 

This suggests that RN is a response to the threat of the [Devourers], and that people can develop this power to protect and defend themselves. The connection to a specific being or entity could be a key factor in the development of RN, and could determine the abilities and powers that are unlocked. 

"With RN1, I will be able to access knowledge about hidden abilities depending on the connection between the person and the being," he said to himself, excited by the prospect of discovering new powers and abilities. The idea of being able to connect with other beings and access hidden knowledge was both exciting and terrifying at the same time. 

After a moment's thought, Jota bent down and pulled a cylindrical wax candle from under his bed. The dim light of the flame danced in his eyes, as if defying the darkness that loomed over his mind. Its warmth was welcoming, and its flames showed no signs of causing burns. 

"I remember that in high school they warned us that, upon reaching the age of 17, the human body reaches sufficient maturity to withstand the practice of RN. At that age, the physical structure is more resistant, capable of handling the concentration of energy without succumbing. But if someone ventures too soon, the result is fatal: the body disintegrates from within. First, the eyes bleed as if vision itself were rebelling. Then, an intense cold runs through the skin, as if death itself were touching every cell. Finally, the pain turns into internal stabbing pains, as if the organs were struggling to escape their prison, until the internal pressure causes them to explode."

Jota sighed, his gaze lost in the flame.

"It's funny," he murmured, "how we seek to transcend our limits, how we defy natural laws in search of power or knowledge. But, in the end, death is the only certainty we have. It reminds us that, no matter how hard we try to escape it, it always catches up with us. It is a constant reminder of our fragility." He sighed deeply.

"Only 17-year-old students are allowed access to this information. If children younger than that knew about it, the death toll across Frontier would be exorbitant. Also, to increase your RN, you need to go to a hero agency to verify your age; only then will they give you these candles," Jota said as a drop of sweat slowly ran down his face. 

"Then, you must sign a contract stating that whatever happens with these candles will be your sole responsibility. No matter the circumstances, whether you lose them by accident, steal them, or even if they simply fall out of your backpack without you noticing and someone else finds and uses them, the responsibility will be entirely yours. The law makes no exceptions and recognises no excuses when it comes to these objects. Whether through negligence or direct intent, the consequences will be the same. Justice in Frontier is strict, and once you sign, you accept that the full weight of any incident will fall on you, regardless of the situation." 

"These candles are the gateway to starting your RN and connecting with your true self. It is not just about a power that is activated, but a journey into the depths of your essence."

Jota murmured in a sombre tone, letting out a sigh as several drops of sweat rolled down his forehead and fell to the floor, reflecting the gravity of his words. 

Through the flame, not only is a dormant force ignited, but also the hidden truths that dwell within you. Because only by facing the darkness within oneself is it possible to ignite the light that transforms. The RN is not a simple awakening: it is a pact with who you are, who you have been, and who you are willing to be. 

Without further delay, Jota sat down on the floor with a determined look on his face and placed a candle in each corner around him, forming a perfect square that enclosed him in the centre. He made each movement carefully, as if he knew the weight of each step well. Then he crossed his legs in the lotus position, clasped his hands tightly on his lap, and closed his eyes. In a matter of seconds, as if a shadow had fallen over the place, his entire surroundings became dark. The air seemed to grow denser, and silence enveloped him completely, announcing that the ritual was about to begin. 

"My body is starting to burn too much... Is this normal?" he thought with concern, feeling the heat intensify rapidly. Suddenly, a blue fire emerged around him, enveloping him completely. The flames did not burn his skin like ordinary fire, but the burning became unbearable, as if his muscles and bones were being forged from within. 

"Damn it, bastard, my whole body hurts," he thought as he clenched his teeth tightly, trying not to scream. Sweat ran down his forehead, and every second felt like an eternity inside that blue hell that consumed him without leaving visible marks. 

"If I wanted to become a hero, I have to endure this... I'm not going to give up," Jota repeated to himself as the blue fire continued to devour every corner of his being. 

The burning sensation was like a thousand needles piercing his muscles at once, being destroyed and rebuilt by force. But he didn't scream. He didn't cry. He just clenched his teeth in silent fury, his eyes tightly closed as he felt his very soul being tested.

In the midst of the pain, his thoughts did not wander. They clung to a single thread: his purpose. 

"I will protect my sister Saida... my grandmother... and I will avenge my loved ones, whom I carry with me in my memories every day..." he murmured to himself, not with despair, but with the unbreakable strength of one who has chosen a path from which there is no return. The suffering was not only physical. It was a confrontation with his own limits, with his fear, with the part of him that feared he was not enough. But even in the midst of that scorching darkness, something inside him continued to shine. It was anger, yes, but also love. Love for those who still lived, for those who believed in him. And because of that, his determination became stronger than the pain. 

"Damned Devourers... I will kill them all, no matter what it takes," he thought, his jaw trembling from the pressure. It was not a promise made in vain. It was an oath sealed with fire, pain, and a will that not even the blue hell could break.

At that moment, Jota wasn't just enduring the ritual. He was mastering it. Because he understood that true heroes aren't the strongest, but those who choose to keep going when everything tells them to give up.