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the-sidekick-club · 2 years ago

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The Professor

Origins: Shadow Wraith - Part 1

Written by: @heroes-villains-side-blog★@tratieisdabest★@just-a-space-rabbit

TW:Implied toxicity, Implied manipulation, and Implied toxic relationship

☰☲☷★☷☲☰

The old classroom was filled with the sounds of keyboards and hushed conversations.

Lukas, the youngest student there, was sitting in the back corner talking with some classmates while they completed their notes for the day.

His friend, roommate, and longtime tech rival, Elliot, was just about to get to the punchline of the overdramatized ‘adventure’ he and Lukas had been on the week prior, when a student walked up to them.

“Hi, are you Lukas Aelius?” they asked.

“Yeah, he is! And who are you?” Elliot huffed, annoyed his punchline had been halted.

“Professor Andaka told me to give you this,'' the student handed Lukas a note, not sparing a glance at Elliot.

“Professor Andaka?” Elliot yelled in a mocking tone. “That weirdo who’s so busy studying Aura that he forgets that he’s a teacher? What does he want with Lukas? He’s not even his student!” The student just shrugged at his questions before leaving.

Lukas, who had remained quiet, looked down at the note. It was true that he was not technically part of Andaka’s classes, but that never stopped him from sitting in and listening in on them anyway. But Elliot didn't need to know that.

Lukas looked down at the note which was just a piece of paper ripped out from a notebook, with some text in a wobbly handwriting.

"Hello Mr. Aelius, hope you had an egg-cellent holiday. Would you please do me the kindness of visiting me in my office after your class at 16:30?

Kind regards,

Professor E. G. Andaka”

Lukas had just started wondering what Professor Andaka could possibly want him for when, “Oooohhh! Someone’s in trouble!” Elliot teased.

Lukas gave him a light shove, “It’s just an invitation!” he said, placing the note and the rest of his belongings back in his backpack.

“Yeah, I know that!” Elliot said smugly, rubbing the shoved shoulder, “I mean you're in trouble for being late, since it’s already 16:28.”

Lukas's eyes shot to the clock by the door which indeed said 16:28, “Shoot!” he muttered under his breath, before bolting out the door.

His departure only elicited an exhausted yell from the teacher, “No running allowed!”

As Lukas was sprinting down the halls, he wondered why Professor Andaka had called him.

Lukas, though only 18, was an engineering student in his final year in university, a field that was nowhere near Andaka’s studies about the human body and the strange inner workings of Aura.

Yes, he had been allowed to sit in on his classes but that was only out of, well… personal reasons.

He opened the front door of the tech building and looked in the direction of Andaka's office. He quickened his pace as he ran over the January snow that was blanketing the ground. It was fresh enough that he didn't have to worry about ice, and there was barely even a crunch as he rushed over it.

Reaching the first step to the Aura building, he slowed down, panting heavily. The building laid silent in front, the dark stone bathed in the orange and red of the setting sun, a stark contrast to the white snow surrounding it. After collecting himself, he walked up and into the building's shadow.

It took some time to find Professor Andaka's office. After asking the janitor for directions, and walking past it twice due to its confusing placement, Lukas finally knocked on the door.

At once, there was a sound of something hard hitting the ground with a loud thud, followed by hasty footsteps. “AH! Mr. Aelius, you're here!” said a soft-spoken voice as the door opened up revealing the professor.

“I’m so sorry! I got the message late and then —”

“Oh, no need to worry! Truly, it is perfectly fine. You are here, and that is what matters,” the professor said, welcoming Lukas in.

Inside, Lukas was immediately hit with the strong smell of coffee. The office might have been of decent size to the average professor, but to Andaka? Well, papers and books mingled with old and new machine parts. Several cups of coffee were spread around the room, likely the source of the strong smell. There were books on chairs, coats on bookshelves. Even the cute little vase with a single flower in it had been covered with multi-colored sticky notes. And almost like a wash over a painting, the room was submerged in the small amount of orange sunlight slipping past the blinds. It was a mess all around, and yet… Lukas took an instant liking to the room.

“Now,” Andaka clapped his hands together, “I have seen you sitting in on some of my classes about Aura and its history before, but I don’t think we have formally introduced ourselves. So, hello. I’m Professor Egor G. Andaka,” he said with a grin, holding out his hand. Lukas took it, and introduced himself back.

“Now, you may be wondering why I brought you here today. And not to worry it’s not just for a cup of coffee!” he laughed at his own joke, a habit Lukas found a bit silly but endearing. “Ahem. Sorry. No, I asked you here for something special!”

Special? Lukas wondered, why would the professor invite him for something special?

“I heard that your studies are going well, yes?” Andaka suddenly asked, catching Lukas off guard.

“Huh? Oh, yes, they’re going great! But not easy though.”

“Well, what's the point of studying if it’s easy?” Andaka chuckled “Still, though, good that you’re doing well. For I have an opportunity for you here. See that on my desk?” He pointed to a highly secured box.

Lukas had completely missed it in all the chaos. “What is it?” he said as he began moving closer. Andaka grinned as he got to the box, “It arrived this morning, I wanted you to be the first person I show it to,” Andaka smiled as he opened the box.

There was an instant change in the room. It felt colder, the warm sunlight was instantly drowned out by the bright blue light coming from a small oval object placed securely in the box. “This, Mr. Aelius, is the Ekalf zaar ruhatama e wafiz, an ancient relic with an ancient name from a bygone era.”

“Wow,” was all that Lukas was able to say. Staring at the relic, he felt a rush of questions flow up at once, “How did you- What is- Why?!” uncompromising questions were all that he could get out, far too curious and shocked to be intelligible.

“Easy, now! I’m sure you have a lot of questions, but you only have one head!” Andaka laughed.

Lukas didn't feel like laughing at his joke.

“As I said, this is an ancient relic and little is known about how or why it was made,” Andaka emphasised the last part of the sentence, making Lukas ponder more over the strange object. “Its name means 'holder of a thousand souls', and it is believed to be able to separate an Aura from its body,” he said, picking up the egg and turning it in his hand.

“Godness!” Lukas exclaimed. “Why would you hold it?”

“Don’t worry! There's no danger while the relic is in its current state,” he said, before handing it over to Lukas, who took it after a few moments of hesitation. It felt like he expected, cold to the touch, but as he got closer to it, the beauty of it finally struck him.

As he turned it around, the insides seemed to shift and move, almost like a liquid. Were there really souls in there? The thought sent shivers up his spine, but there was one more question he had. “What is it you want this, um… this relic for, exactly?”

“Well, I’m glad you asked!” Andaka beamed, clapping his hands together. “Well, first of all, I have gone and officially changed the name of the relic from Ekalf zaar ruhatama e wafiz to the easier and improved name: The Emanation And Growth Genesis.”

“The Emanation and — wow! That's not an easy name either!” Lukas said, finally moving his eyes away from the relic and back to the professor.

“No, it isn't.” Andaka chuckled, “But that name was only chosen so we can use the much superior abbreviation for it."

Lukas stood still as he began to think out loud, "Abbreviation? The Emanation, growth, gene — EGG! YOU NAMED IT EGG?! You renamed a legendary and dangerous relic 'EGG'?” he exclaimed, not sure what to feel. Granted it was kind of egg shaped, but still, something so legendary. It was just… madness to call it that.

"Yes, yes, my new dear friend,” Andaka said as he gave Lukas a hard pat on the shoulder. “Maybe that name wasn't all it was… cracked up to be. I was egg-xercising my right to improve the longevity of this relic by giving it a name fit for the modern age. Also, it's my research so I do not need to walk on any eggshells around it."

Lukas stared at him with his mouth open.

"Anyway," the professor pivoted, like he hadn't just altered the course of history for the sake of goofy puns.

Respect, Lukas thought.

"I'm currently working on plans to build a machine that can activate the EGG's abilities. The hope is that we can control it, and be able to safely remove people's superpowers!"

"You want to use it to remove powers?!” Lukas froze at the words, “Isn't that… like, villainous, and unethical?"

"Oh, we won't be removing powers against their will! No, no! This will be entirely ethical, Mr Aelius. I have partnered with the Aura committee who will be overseeing the project and that it will all be handled safely.”

“Yes, but… removing a part of someone’s Aura? A literal part of their soul?” Lukas bit his lower lip, this felt wrong. But Andaka placed a reassuring hand on Lukas’s shoulder.

“Some powers are scary, Mr. Aelius. Dangerous, even." He said in a careful tone. "Those born with powers and those born without have no say in the gifts given to them, and there should be no shame letting them give the gift away.”

Lukas felt his stomach twist at the words, knowing too well about unwanted gifts. “But what if they want the powers, but… er, others do not?” he asked.

“The machine is only for people who do not wish to have powers themselves, and it is entirely their choice. Neither you nor me nor the Hero Agency gets to have a say in it. Not even your parents"

Lukas nearly dropped the EGG, “You know?!” he yelped.

“Mr Aelius. Your mother is a well-known elder in the hero agency, and your father is a Desolite guardian. I may not have powers of my own, but I have a keen eye. I have seen the way you seem to disappear in the shadows — what a fantastic power!”

Lukas was completely bewildered. No one apart from Elliot knew about his powers. “You may think they are fantastic,” he said with a defeated tone, “but, my parents disagree. They only see them as a bad omen and would rather have me be born without them.”

“Bad omen?!” Andaka spat, “There is no scientific proof that a person's powers mean any such thing! And no power is inherently good or bad!” Andaka stopped himself from talking further.

“Sorry about that. I dislike people who forget that Aura is not some mythical thing that brings good or bad fortune." Andaka turned and placed his hand on both of Lukas’s shoulders, and looked into his eyes "Now, Lukas. Please tell me. Do you like your powers?” he said softly.

There was a meek “yes” from Lukas.

“Then that power is yours, and it is a part of you.” Andaka said in a soft tone. “And no one should ever take it away from you. But to get this conversation back to the EGG," he said, before they both dropped their gaze to examine the artefact again, "For some people, their powers do not feel like a part of themselves. They do not feel that their power is theirs.”

"Do such people exist?" Lukas wondered aloud.

"All types of people exist, Mr. Aelius. And some people would want to remove their powers for a whole wide range of reasons. Maybe their powers are awfully inconvenient. Or, as I previously stated, they might be dangerous. It can also just be a personal choice for reasons that are not ours to know."

Lukas nodded. He finally understood Andaka’s vision. He understood completely. And his respect for Professor Andaka only grew. But there was only one question he had left. “Professor Andaka? Why are you telling me all this?”

“Goodness, me! I skipped the first step!” Andaka jumped. “You see, I need a partner!”

“A partner?!” Lukas’s face contorted in confusion; this was the last thing he had imagined him say.

“Yes, I may have a great knowledge about Aura, and trust me, I know a good amount about machine building as well. But I would want to have a partner who can really help with the machinery. But also, you know, have some knowledge about Aura as well." Andaka fixed Lukas with a determined gaze, "And that is where you come in,” Professor Andaka smiled.

Lukas was in shock. “You're giving me a job?” was all that he was able to say.

“YES! You have your final exam in the spring, correct? If you pass it, then you can come here and work for me… that is, if you want of course.” Andaka said as he placed the egg back into the box.

“I would love to!” Lukas almost yelled out, already excited to start.

"Well, I'll be looking forward to breaking a few eggs with you in the future, Lukas. You're as good an egghead as they come. A proper good egg."

Lukas stared for a few seconds, then finally asked the question that had been running through his mind all this time. “Professor… are you hungry? Would you like me to make you some eggs?” Lukas joked.

At that, the professor clearly deflated. His shoulders slumped and his gaze never met Lukas'. “Yes, please. I don't remember the last time I ate, to be perfectly honest.”

…

Meanwhile outside the office window, Elliot grunted to himself as he heard the two making more egg jokes before leaving. “Got yourself a new job with the professor, ey?” he said to himself “I can’t believe you would go behind my back like that! And for that egghead? If you think I'm going to just let you win at everything. Think again!' He clenched his fists and grit his teeth, “Seems like I was too soft. Time for more drastic measures.”

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#heroes and villains #young villain #villain #Lukas #Professor Andaka #Elliot #Tw implied toxicity #tw implied manipulation #tw implied toxic relationship #Snippet #superpowers #e.g.g.#the sidekick club

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