The Dark Warlock's Gambit

Vardy sat on the floor of his small, run-down room at White Oak Academy, his eyes fixed on the dark screen of his old console. Memories of his time swallowed up in the virtual world of Rune Quest Flooded his mind, a world that once held him captive in its allure. The echoes of battles fought and victories won resonated within him, now distant yet vivid.

A sudden knock shagged out the quietude enveloping his room, prompting him to stir from his reverie. "Vardy, are you in there?" Mason's voice pierced through the door, tinged with a mixture of weariness and anticipation.

With a deliberate pace, Vardy rose and opened the door partially, meeting Mason's gaze. Their eyes locked briefly, a silent exchange of understanding passing between them. Mason's news of a summons to the main hall by an unknown officer stirred a sense of curiosity and apprehension within Vardy.

Engulfed by a wave of resignation, Vardy accompanied Mason through the dimly lit hallway, their footsteps echoing off the worn linoleum floors. The stark contrast between their reality and the opulence enjoyed by their peers weighed heavily on Vardy, a constant reminder of their marginalized existence within the academy.

As they joined the gathering in the main hall, a sea of weary faces greeted them, each bearing the burden of unspoken struggles and unmet expectations. The academy officer's presence at the front, armed with a clipboard and an air of authority, signaled the beginning of another obligatory address to the students.

Amidst the sea of uncertainty and discontent, Vardy and his peers stood united in their shared experiences of neglect and disillusionment. The impending discourse promised nothing but a reiteration of their perceived insignificance within the confines of the academy's hierarchy. Yet, as they braced themselves for the inevitable lecture, a glimmer of defiance flickered in Vardy's eyes, a silent vow to defy the constraints imposed upon them.

As they entered the main hall, a few dozen other students were already gathered. Most looked just as worn down as Vardy felt. At the front of the room, an academy officer stood with a clipboard in hand.

"Listen up," the officer began in a stern voice. "You're all here because, despite your lack of powers, you've been given a chance. The Frame Initiative is your opportunity to prove you belong here. Failure is not an option."

Vardy leaned over to Mason. "Sounds like the same speech as last week."

Mason smirked. "They must have it memorized."

The officer glanced at them sharply, and Vardy straightened up, pretending to listen. But his mind wandered again, thinking of *Rune Quest* and the freedom he felt there. Here, in this academy, everything felt suffocating. But he knew one thing for sure-he wouldn't let them break him.

The officer continued, "Tomorrow, your physical endurance tests will begin. Make sure you're prepared. Dismissed."

As the crowd began to disperse, Mason turned to Vardy. "You think you'll make it through this?"

Vardy's expression stayed calm. "I made it this far. I'll figure it out."

Vardy sat on the edge of a cracked stone wall, watching a group of powered students laugh and push one of his classmates, Luthor, to the ground. The academy grounds felt more like a battlefield, and the powerless students were always the targets. Vardy stayed quiet, his eyes narrowing at the scene in front of him.

"Come on, Luthor," one of the powered students sneered. "You really think you can stand up to us? You're nothing."

Luthor got back to his feet, wiping the dirt from his face. "I'm not afraid of you," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We're here to train, same as you."

The biggest of the bullies, a tall guy with electric sparks dancing between his fingers, stepped forward. "Train? You? You're a waste of space here." He swung a fist at Luthor, knocking him back down.

Vardy clenched his fists but didn't move. He knew getting involved wouldn't help.

After the group finally left, laughing as they walked away, Luthor sat up, groaning but smiling. "Man, they hit harder than I expected."

Vardy walked over and offered a hand. "You should stop provoking them."

Luthor grinned as he accepted the help. "What's the fun in that? Besides, we're not here to roll over, right?"

Vardy shook his head. "Still, you need to pick your battles."

"Maybe. But I'm not giving up. This place is tough, but we'll survive," Luthor said, dusting himself off.

Frank, another student, came up from behind, shaking his head. "You're crazy, Luthor. I'm ready to quit. This place isn't worth it."

"You're wrong," Tracy chimed in, her arms crossed. She had been watching from a distance. "If we give up now, we'll never know what we could have done. We're not like them, but that doesn't mean we're worthless."

Jesse, leaning against the wall nearby, shrugged. "Honestly, I don't care either way. If they leave me alone, I'll leave them alone."

Vardy looked at them, feeling a strange sense of connection. "We have to stick together," he said quietly. "It's the only way we'll make it through this."

Luthor nodded. "Exactly. And hey, Vardy, I like your calm approach. It's probably smarter than what I'm doing."

Vardy didn't respond to the compliment, but inside, he felt a flicker of respect for Luthor's optimism. "We'll get through this. We just have to stay focused."

Tracy glanced at Vardy. "You're right. We can't let them break us."

Frank sighed. "I don't know, man. I just want out."

Vardy looked at him, his voice steady. "Leaving won't solve anything. We're here now, so we have to see it through."

As the group stood together, they all knew this was just the beginning. The academy wouldn't get any easier, but they were ready to face whatever came next.

The Training Grounds at White Oak were truly impressive, leaving a lasting impression on those who set foot in them. The vast expanse of the grounds was predominantly open-air, adorned with grand rings enclosed by towering metal walls that evoked the image of ancient arenas where heroes honed their skills.

Among the students, Vardy found himself among the Frame students, a distinct group that stood apart from the others. As he observed the crowd, he estimated that there were approximately two hundred 'normal' students bustling about, each with their own aspirations and dreams of becoming heroes.

In contrast to the grandeur of other renowned hero schools, White Oak appeared modest in size. Vardy couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps the school lacked the financial resources of its counterparts, yet there was an underlying sense of mystery that lingered in the air. It was as if there was more to White Oak than met the eye, a hidden depth waiting to be uncovered.

Compared to other hero schools, White Oak was small. Vardy thought maybe they didn't have much money, but something felt off.

The arenas were high-tech, with some able to change the terrain. They had obstacles and drones ready for battle.

"Listen closely!" bellowed Officer Fletcher, his voice echoing across the grounds. "Because I won't say this again! We already know your powers and your Altana Cell count."

Vardy knew this meant they could access student profiles to see who was strong or not.

"But cell count and a bullet point summary of your powers doesn't mean sh*t out there where you'll be fighting for your lives against Vagrants or other Altanas. Combat is where we really determine your worth. Where you really use those powers you were born with."

The students murmured nervously. Some were excited, but the Frame students were scared. They hadn't even seen their Frames yet.

Officer Fletcher went on about classes and rewards. Class A meant good treatment, but the lower classes had to work harder.

"Excuse me, sir!" Luthor's voice cut through the tension.

Vardy knew Luthor would probably get hurt again.

"What about us?" Luthor asked, motioning to the Frame students. "We have no cell count or power profile. How do we fit into this?"

Fletcher didn't like the question. He hurt Luthor's shoulder with a hot touch, warning them to stay quiet.

"Their Frames are inside the arenas," Fletcher said sternly. "You can pilot them when the fighting begins."

Luthor asked how, but Fletcher didn't care. He told them to find their names on a board and go to their assigned arenas.

"The arenas will scan you to see if you can fight. If you get knocked out, drones will take you out."

"Fighting for ninety minutes will decide your class position," Fletcher explained. "Then get moving, maggots!"

As luck would have it, Vardy and the other Frame students found themselves in arena number 1, bumping the student count from 50 to 54.

"How do I even move in this thing?" Luthor grumbled, his face barely visible under the helmet of his Frame power suit. He was stuck in a fixed T-pose, looking like an unfinished video game character, while others laughed at his predicament.

Vardy examined his own Frame, a towering humanoid suit made of segmented black plates with coils of dark grey cable underneath. As he touched the Frame's chest, it recognized his handprint.

"Subjects, huh?" Vardy mused. "That's all we are to this world."

"I couldn't get mine to open properly. And who made you subject number 1?" Luthor complained. "Help me figure this thing out!"

Vardy knew Luthor hadn't properly accessed his Frame. Without a bio signature scan, the suit didn't recognize him as its owner, leaving him stuck.

It was clear White Oak didn't care about the Frame students; they were just there for funding. Vardy knew the academy expected them to fail or quit.

"Aww, look, the Duds can't even use their crutches!" a student taunted Luthor, sparking laughter.

"They thought they belonged here with us, with real powers," another jeered.

"Don't mind them. Altanas are the next stage of human evolution," a girl sneered.

"It makes me sick being around them," a serious-looking student added.

"They won't be so cocky once I punch their faces in," Luthor retorted.

"And how will you do that? By T-posing?" Vardy teased.

Officer Fletcher's voice interrupted, announcing the start of the evaluation.

The arena shook as Hard Light Environments rendered, creating a simulated combat terrain.

"Let's see you try and move now!" someone mocked as several Frames struggled to walk.

"This is insanity," Frank fretted, adjusting his glasses nervously.

"Yeah, how are we supposed to fight in these things?" Jesse worried.

"Doesn't mean we can't try," Tracy encouraged, activating her Frame.

Vardy knew how to use the Frame, thanks to a secret training program his parents had left him. But he kept it to himself, letting the others underestimate him.

As the countdown ended, the evaluation began, and students targeted the helpless Frames.

"You're mine!" a student charged at Vardy.

"Boosters 4,5 engage," Vardy commanded silently, using thrusters in his heels to dodge the attack.

Vardy swiftly disabled one opponent, surprising everyone, including Tracy.

"What? How?" she exclaimed.

But Vardy had no time to explain as more students attacked.

"Boosters 4,5 maximum output. Engage left flare," Vardy ordered, using his suit's capabilities to incapacitate another opponent.

With no weapons, Vardy faced a crowd of adversaries, knowing he couldn't defeat them all.

But then, the leader of the bullies appeared, exuding a menacing aura that Vardy knew he couldn't match.

"Holy crap, it's Dean!" exclaimed some Altana students, marveling at Dean like he was a superhero.

Vardy watched closely as half of the students were mesmerized by Dean, while the others fled, uninterested in dealing with Vardy.

This indicated one thing: Dean was a serious threat, not just to Altana students like Vardy, but to everyone.

Vardy considered his options against Dean and realized he had none.

The Solar family was renowned for their powerful abilities, passed down through generations. Hayate Solar, the patriarch, ranked 15th in the World Rankings 100, possessed immense power called True Sun Force, granting him incredible strength, speed, and more.

If Dean inherited even a fraction of his father's power, Vardy stood no chance against him.

There were rumors of a Solar weakness, but they were effectively erased from the public eye by the family's PR team.

Dean mocked the defeated students, berating them for losing to someone like Vardy.

Then, Dean attacked with incredible speed and power, incapacitating the Altana students effortlessly.

He then turned his attention to Vardy, taunting him and delivering a devastating blow that left Vardy battered and broken.

Despite the pain, Vardy refused to give up.

Meanwhile, Tracy, another Altana student, tried to defend Vardy but was swiftly defeated by an invisible assailant named Sly.

Sly's ability to phase through matter made him a formidable opponent, leaving Vardy and Tracy helpless against him.

Sly, enjoying his dominance, inflicted more damage on Vardy before leaving them both incapacitated.

As Sly departed, Vardy gritted his teeth, refusing to show any sign of weakness in front of his tormentors.

The combat evaluation ended as expected, with Vardy and the other Frame students placed in the F-class alone.

Looking back, it was clear the 'F-class' was designed to isolate Frame students further.

Vardy and Luthor recuperated in the infirmary after the assessment, escorted by drones as Altana students laughed at their misfortune.

"The infirmary, a large building with white walls and a glowing green cross sign, was well-equipped but off-limits to them," Vardy observed carefully.

Instead, they were confined to a makeshift basement with basic medical supplies, reminiscent of a Vagrant outpost.

Vardy and Luthor rested on hard beds under flickering lights, accompanied by Tracy, who felt safer there than in her dorm.

The nurse, with tired eyes behind a white mask, silently tended to them.

"Where are the others, miss?" Luthor inquired as he sat up, his injuries comparatively light. "Damn, why do they get to be up there while we're stuck down here, huh?"

"The other two are in intensive care," the nurse replied curtly. "You are lucky to be down here. Means you at least have the energy to talk like that."

"Oh," Luthor responded, deflating slightly.

Vardy stared at the cracks in the ceiling wordlessly. He had heard what happened to Frank and Jesse, the Frame students who had fled.

"They had been chased down and mercilessly hunted down by Altanas that smelled their fear," Vardy explained, "and they were savagely beaten again and again as the Altana students tried to fight for who got the knockout points."

Meanwhile, because Dean and his crew had personally dealt with Vardy, Luthor, and Tracy, no other Altanas wanted to compete against Dean and try to claim they had beaten Vardy and his little group.

"In a way, Dean's cruelty had saved them from further harm," Vardy added.

"I doubt they will stay here," the nurse interjected. "White Oak will probably discharge them considering the severity of their injuries, and I doubt they can afford to call in a Restorer."

Vardy and the others nodded in understanding.

It was a known fact that among Altana powers, ones that healed the body were extraordinarily rare.

"Powers that healed the self were not that uncommon, but healing others manifested in such rarity that any Altana that could heal even little cuts on others was guaranteed a lifetime of wealth and employment," Vardy explained.

Altanas capable of this were categorized as Restorers, and their services cost fortunes to hire. Medical technology had advanced to the point where anything short of death could be healed, but recovery still took time and effort neither of which White Oak was willing to spend much on Duds.

And it was a sick joke to even suggest a Frame student hire a proper high-end Restorer to heal their wounds instantly.

The nurse sighed and shook her head before staring at Vardy, Luthor, and Tracy. "You three should consider leaving, too, before this place eats you up and spits you back out in broken pieces."

"Fuck that," Luthor retorted. "I get rich, or I die trying."

"Well, I'm not really here to give life advice, so you do you," the nurse shrugged before she left, walking upstairs to tend to patients upstairs.

After a brief pause, Luthor spoke again.

"You were insane out there, Aldy. You beat the sh*t out of a couple of those Altana idiots. Did you see how stupid that guy looked before you knocked him out? I could replay that moment in my head a thousand times over."

"Same here," Vardy concurred.

"Why didn't you tell us you could use the Frames?" Tracy interjected. "Why didn't you tell us how to use them earlier?"

Vardy hesitated before responding. "I... I wanted to keep my skills hidden, to make sure they underestimated us."

"You wanted to keep your skills hidden, right? Make sure they underestimated you," Luthor surmised.

Vardy raised a brow, surprised that Luthor could parse this despite seeming so dumb.

"Y'know, it's just natural. If you're good at something, you keep it to yourself, especially when you're powerless like us," Luthor explained. "I don't put it against you. It's just the way the world is. Every advantage you can take, you take."

"I suppose," Tracy sighed. "You're right. I just thought that for Frame students like us, all we've got in this academy was each other. I was willing to fight for you two just because you were Duds like me."

"And we can still be allies," Vardy reassured her. "You're right. We need allies here, and no Altana is going to associate with us. In the future, it will be optimal for us to work together.

"If you suspect my trustworthiness, then think about this: how could I have known our first test was going to be a free-for-all bloodbath? If I had known beforehand and had time to piece together a plan, I would have informed everyone and created a strategy that maximized our strengths and covered our weaknesses. But I can't see the future like some Altanas can, can I?"

"Yes, I don't really blame you," Tracy conceded. "It's like Luthor said. When you're a Dud like us where everyone in the world seems to be out to get you, it's just natural to take the advantages you can. I just had a bad gut reaction, but I've thought it through."

"Anyway, considering it looks like we're going to be the last three Frame students left, let's get to know each other," Luthor suggested. "So, what are you all in here for? Why are you guys so desperate you're willing to get your asses kicked ten different ways just for a chance to graduate from this sh*thole?"

Tracy and Vardy remained silent for several seconds.

"My parents were heroes," Vardy began, "They were killed by the Aegaon. I want to get a license to hunt them down."

"Damn, that's pretty hardcore," Luthor remarked. "I can see why you've got so much drive behind those dead eyes of yours. And you, Tracy?"

"My parents weren't heroes, but they were Altanas," Tracy explained. "When they realized I was a Dud, they disowned me and threw me out to the Wastes."

Vardy felt a twinge of sympathy for her. The Wastes were considered areas ravaged by Vagrant activity where the truly desperate settled, forming ragtag, tiny towns and cities where poverty and desperation filled the air.

"That's fucked," Luthor sympathized. "How old were you?"

"Five, I think," Tracy replied. "It was so long ago, so I don't remember much."

Luthor shook his head in disbelief. "The world hates us, what can I say?". I'm the same deal as you. Parents had powers, I had none, so they threw me out. I survived in the Wastes working odd jobs, scrapping for metal and broken tech here and there and, of course, stealing when I could.

"How'd you survive?" Luthor inquired.

"An old Techno took me in," Tracy revealed. "I might not have had powers, but I did have a knack for coding. I helped out at his shop when I could. Tried to earn my keep but keeping drones running."

Technos were a class of Altanas capable of manipulating technology in some enhanced capacity. That Tracy could help out a proper Techno meant the old Techno either pitied her that much or she was just that naturally talented.

"Sweet, so you're smart," Luthor remarked.

Tracy shifted uncomfortably, unused to praise. "I do what I can," she replied, her eyes casting down.

Rumple - that's the name of the guy that took me in - he's getting old. His memory's fading and his powers don't work for him anymore. I don't want him to die in the wastes all alone, working to the bone like that. I want to graduate from here, become a hero, and get him a place to live in a Neo-City where he can spend the rest of his days in silence. That's the least I owe him."

"You've got a good heart," Luthor complimented.

"But at the end of the day, I also wanted friends," Luthor admitted with a smile directed at his companions. "And what do you know! I've got two friends already. A tech genius and a silent badass. Can't say I'm disappointed."

"You don't have much room to be disappointed," Vardy said with a faint smile. Luthor's positive energy was infectious, Vardy had to admit.

"And friends gotta' stick together," Luthor declared, placing a fist to his heart. "Especially powerless people like us. I got this feeling, but if we stick together, I feel like we'll all make it through this no problem."

"Hope so," Tracy said with a sigh.

"Yeah," Vardy agreed simply, though he couldn't shake the feeling that things might not turn out as smoothly as Luthor hoped.