Chapter 3

Ryan blasted electricity through his hands gadget again. The training holograms faded away. 

He smirked. He had beaten his high score again. 

'Bravo Master Ryan,' his butler nodded curtly from the training room doorway. 'What is it Greg?' Ryan asked.

Greg was not bothered by the cold tone, he was rather used to it. 'Your ride is waiting downstairs if you please.' Ryan still continued practicing. 'What's my agenda today?' he asked without stopping what he was doing.

The whole room got shaken by an electric current.

'Well sire, you have an appointment with the hero league management in Superhero high,' Greg disclosed. 'In another term, a school.' 

Ryan stopped. 'I see,' he finally said.

'Prepare my usual coffee and I shall have it picked up downstairs,' he instructed. Greg nodded curtly. 'Very well Master Ryan.' 

His footsteps faded in the hallway. 

Ryan took the hidden passage way back to his quarters. His uniform was waiting for him in the dressing chamber. 

His was designed the way he preferred. All black, to the patch he was wearing except for his gloves, boots and cloak which were in purple.

He looked at the portrait that hung beside his fourposter bed. 

'We did it Rita.' 

He put on his eye patch to complete his uniform. He looked at his late sister's portrait before leaving the room.

~~~

'2,997....'

'2,998....' 

'2,999....' 

'3,000!' Ethan delivered the last blow and the punching bag went crashing down.

His father came down with Kevin, Ethan's big brother.

'Now, now Ethan. That's enough! Your arms are starting to bleed! Besides..,' he looked around the training ground. 'You've knocked down half of the punching bags as it is. You've tried,' he smiled proudly. 

Ethan managed a smile. Just then his brother Kevin chose to speak.

'Hmph!' he scoffed. 'He merely punched 3,000 times. Remember when I was his age father? I'd have punched up to 5,000 times.' 

Their father laughed. 'That's just about right! You were a terror in your days Kevin. I doubt anyone could do what you did then....you were and still are my champion,' he praised, slapping Kevin on the back a little.

Ethan grew red.

With just a strike he hit another punching bag hard, causing it to swing violently backwards.

Their father and Kevin had left the room long after his indiscretions in extolling Kevin's awesome ways.

Kevin later came back, smirked and remarked, 'Looks like you failed again, dimwit! Just admit it, you can never surpass me,' he snorted.

Ethan clenched his fists. 

'What a sore loser!' Kevin scoffed. Ethan angrily threw a knife at him.

Kevin easily caught it between his fingers without looking back. He tsk-ed. 'Next time baby brother, try to actually aim for me and not for the door post. Well anyway your aiming sucks....,' he turned back with a smirk. 'You suck!' 

Then he left.

Ethan stomped in his room and shoved on his clothes rather roughly. He put bandages all around his arms like a glove, tied the blue sash on his head like a Warrior's then wore his armour on his uniform. He put his swords in their sheath behind him. His daggers were kept by his two sides. 

It was time to introduce Ethan Joan to hero league.