by Simon Archer
“You did well, son,” he said quietly, then he turned to address the crowd. “For astounding acts of heroism in defense of the city of Alexandria, I am proud to bestow these medals of recognition to the seven students you see before you.”
Triton gestured for each to come in turn and listed their names to the crowd before handing them their medals. Aylin was the second to last, who took the medal with wide eyes and an uncertain expression. She was overwhelmed by the honor, and I wondered what sort of honors were bestowed on her homeworld.
Instead of listing my name, Triton addressed the crowd again, holding up a different medal. The others had been silver, but this one was a proud, shining gold.
“I hold in my hands a medal that represents our greatest respect: the Delacruz Medal of Heroism. There are only six people in the entire world who have received this medal. I was one of them seven years ago, and today, our youngest member joins this esteemed rank. His name is Nicholas Gateon.”
A murmur fell over the crowd at the name, but Triton continued, ignoring it. “He is the son of one of the greatest heroes this world has ever seen... and also one of the most terrifying tyrants to rule it. Before today, the name Nicholas Gateon represented fear and torment. It represented betrayal.” He paused for a moment, and the words seemed to resonate in the air before he continued.
“Today, that changes. Today, you will see it for the young man who has fought this reputation and dedicated his entire life to healing that wound. He has saved this city three times in the span of a year, and he has done so without asking for a reward or for recognition. Today, you will honor him as a hero.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and I fought back the emotions it brought in me. I thought I was getting a standard medal of recognition which was already more than I’d planned. Earning the Delacruz was a lifetime achievement that most could only dream of, and many who received it only did so late in their lives. I was too young. I hadn’t done that much, had I?
Triton raised his palm in the air. “As is custom, I will allow the audience to protest this decision. If you do not feel he has earned the right, speak now.”
I expected an uproar. I told myself that I was too young, and I didn’t deserve it. I hadn’t done enough, had I? But the room was... oddly silent. They each studied me carefully and found no flaw to protest. I shrank under their gazes, uncomfortable, but they did not speak.
I was... incredibly humbled.
“Then let it be,” the world’s greatest hero declared. “On behalf of this great city, I hereby bestow the Delacruz Medal of Heroism to Nicholas Gateon Junior.”
Triton turned to address me, and I could only stare with emotions swirling in my head as he rested the shining golden medal around my neck. My vision swam when he took my hand in his and addressed the crowd. They roared with approval, and Triton cheered among them as he pumped a fist into the air.
An hour later, I was sitting on a park bench before the statues. I still wore the medal, and it felt surreal around my neck. Every now and then I would touch it, gently rubbing a finger along the engravings.
Delacruz was a short, stocky woman, and her forever-young statue reflected it. She looked out towards the community center with a hand shielding her eyes. Book in one arm and a telescope in the other, she wore an excited grin, ever eager to see new sights and explore new boundaries.
I heard Triton approach behind me. I knew it was him because of his slower, familiar gait.
“‘I fight three dozen villains before breakfast,’” he quoted, and then sat down beside me with a creak of his bones. He gestured at the Delacruz statue. “Her words. Did you know that she suffered chronic pain and depression her entire life? An amazing woman.”
I nodded and glanced upward at Triton’s own statue. His was a tall one, aged like he was now. Water swirled around him, but his arms were crossed, and he looked determined to fight off scores of enemies if he had to.
The plaque below his name read, “‘Heroes arrest. Villains hurt.’” I lifted a brow and turned to him.
“I thought you said Gemma started that one.”
He chuckled mysteriously, but instead of admitting to the truth, he sighed and gestured up at his statue as if it disappointed him. “I told them I wanted to be laughing, surrounded by a lot of cats. This is much too serious.”
“You’re a serious man,” I pointed out.
“That’s because you’re my student.” He shrugged. “Except for today. Today, you’re my equal.”
I ducked my head at that and glanced over the empty pedestal where my father’s statue used to be. Absently, I rubbed a finger along the shiny golden medal again.
“I’m honored,” I whispered. “Really, I am. I just don’t know how to process this yet.”
“You’ve earned it,” Triton said confidently. “No doubt you’ll hear from your father soon, who will also be quite proud of you.”
I wasn’t sure how to process that, either.
“Yeah, honors that I earned fighting his forces,” I pointed out. “I’m not even sure how he justifies it.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Triton shrugged back. “A father’s pride is still something worth admiring. The fact that he cares reminds me that there is hope. You will save him someday, I assure you.”
“I don’t know,” I muttered. I pointed at the graffiti, marking ‘murderer.’ “I saw Otevale. It’s hard to forget something like that.”
“And yet the name Nicholas Gateon was cheered today. There is hope, son. You just need to have patience.”
I settled back on the bench and glanced toward Delacruz again. Her smile was eager for the future, and it reminded me of Eric. He’d been so excited just to have the experience of being my friend, and he rarely questioned life, preferring to roll with the punches. There was a lot to be said about that attitude.
“I don’t know about my dad, but... I’m glad you took me in,” I said, glancing at Triton. “I came to the academy wanting to be a hero better than my father, but now, I just... I just want to be the best that I can be. You know? I don’t need to live under the shadow of someone else, anymore. I have my own shadow now.”
Triton’s smile was as proud as it was patient. “You’ll make a great hero someday, Mr. Gateon.”
“I already am a hero,” I pointed out with a grin. “This medal says so.”
“That it does,” Triton said as he smiled at me in a way that made me think he’d been waiting a long time for this moment. “That it does.”
Chapter 32 - Lord Inferno
A pathetic little squeak came from somewhere to my right. “What are you going to do, my lord?”
He was a brave one. While I’d never killed one of my men for making a bad decision or speaking out of turn, many of my minions had come from masters who had done as much... or worse.
“What do you mean, um...?” I struggled to remember his name but didn’t bother looking at him. “Is it Peter? It should be Peter. Peter is a fine name.”
I had so many of these random, faceless sycophants, and sometimes it was hard to keep track. I didn’t take my eyes away from the large screen overhead, where my son was being honored by the city of Alexandria for achievements that took others an entire lifetime to acquire.
He had defeated one of my best robots, and I was oddly proud of that. I intended to kill Jasper’s son, the young Matthew Barbur who had been harassing Junior all year long, and yet it was Junior who nearly killed himself trying to save the lives of his lessers. It was an honor well deserved, of course, and a truly heroic act.
“I just mean that your plan... um... with the robot...”
I glanced over my shoulder, and the man visibly paled which was quite interesting because his skin was the color of dark coffee.
“Failed?” I arched a brow at him. “Is that what you are trying to say?” I turned and faced him fully. “Go ahead, be honest.”
“It-It’s...” He stuttered, stopped, and started again, “It’s just that... um... well, you see—”
“Peter.” I sighed and held out my hand towards him. I summoned blue flames in my palm, and the heat warmed Peter’s panicked little face. I frowned at him in disappointment. “I believe I told you to speak up.”
It was a shame that Peter just squeaked again, and from the dark wet mark between his legs, I was certain he’d just pissed himself. He’d been so brave a moment ago, and now, he was utterly worthless.
With a growl, I glanced at the others cowering behind him. “Speak or flee, little minions.”
They scattered like rats from a storm save for Peter, frozen in my presence. When they were gone, I took a step closer, until I was almost nose-to-nose with him. Well, chin to forehead, because I was quite a bit taller than the man.
“What do you wish to say?”
“Aren’t you... you know... worried? That he will become a hero,” Peter said and pointed past me at the screen. “He just received the Delacruz.”
“Of course he did! He’s my boy.”
I grinned wide as I swung my gaze back toward where Triton was, quite rightly, praising my son.
“He’s going to be the greatest hero the world’s ever seen.” I hugged Peter with one arm and pulled him close, despite the nervous little whimper he made. “Just like his old man, eh?”
Author’s Note
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