Foster
Inheritor
William Graves
It was with the irritation of a man who had barely caught 4 hours of sleep that Will slapped blindly at his alarm clock. After a few seconds of clawing at the air he managed to hit snooze, a sigh of relief escaping his lips as it’s insistent bleeping ceased. His bleary grey eyes opened to the sight of the morning sun trickling into his dorm between the curtains, casting a wedge of light into the otherwise dark room. No chance of getting a little more shut eye then. Not on what may well be the single most important day of his life, for better or worse.
Swinging his legs out of bed he threw the covers off, stumbling into the bathroom to begin his morning routine. It seemed horribly mundane considering he’d be attending IHA for the first time today, the glamorous life of a pro hero distilled down into brushing his teeth and fighting his bed head. In a way it was kind of comforting, some things never changed.
Will powered through the morning in record time and was standing at the door in under 15 minutes, fed, dressed and unable to shake the nerves that were tugging at his insides. He lingered for a moment before gently slapping each side of his face and doing his best to dispel any notion of failure, confidently stepping out of his room, and beginning the journey to IHA. It wasn’t going to take long; the academy had gone out of their way to ensure there were buses that regularly went by the student accommodation that would be able to drop students off right in front of the main gates.
While waiting for the bus to arrive a small crowd of other people from the accommodation began to form around Will and he couldn’t help but wonder if any of them would be joining him in class A. He understood that classes were kept on the small side at IHA, the academy living by the philosophy that they could provide a better quality of education if their teachers aren’t stretched as thinly. That was fine by Will, he’d been in public schools before and knew all too well how easy it was for a voice to be drowned out in the crowd.
The bus arrived a minute or two before schedule, a double decker painted a tasteful white with green accents. It had the IHA logo and name on it’s side but despite this the bus functioned like any other in Grafton city, and was open to anybody who wanted to use it. This wasn’t surprising considering the city council and IHA were basically the twin heads of the same governing body. Being a student did have its perks though…
“Where to?” Asked the driver, a portly man with a shock of pink hair and a kindly smile on his face.
“The academy, cheers.” Replied Will, flashing the card he’d been mailed by IHA when he was first accepted into their program.
The scanner beside the driver flashed a green light upon being exposed to the card, and he indicated that Will was free to take a seat, an offer the young man was quick to take him up on. The student card was a handy bit of kit, there were places all over Regat island where it could be used to access free services. And of course there was no way to get inside the academy without one.
Once the bus set off it was an uneventful journey, but it did give Will a fantastic chance to really soak in the beauty of Grafton city, something he hadn’t allowed himself to do until now during his short time here so far. The city was state of the art, plenty of metal and glass, but at the same time there was life everywhere Will looked. Meticulously designed areas of woodland blended seamlessly with the infrastructure the city needed, leaving the island a haven for both people and wildlife. The weirdest part was how clean everything was. Back home in the UK every city would have at least some trash thrown about, discarded carelessly by some asshole who hadn’t quite got to grips with the concept of a bin just yet. It probably helped that Regat authorities were pretty strict with who they allowed on the island in the first place reasoned Will. This island, and the city that had grown on it, were the safest places on the planet.
It wasn't long before the imposing wall that surrounded IHA came into view, a seemingly never-ending expanse of metal that sealed off the prestigious academy from the rest of the world. Occasionally he'd spy a grass covered rooftop peeking out just above the barrier but for the most part the school was as shrouded as usual. Of course, it made sense that they didn't let just anybody into this place, it would be a disaster to see the next generation of heroes wiped out by a particularly ambitious villain who just waltzed in. Not to mention the effect it would have on the reputation of the place. That reputation was the main reason his mother had even tolerated the idea of him being a hero, especially after what had happened to Tom. It had taken hours of the two brothers convincing her that this was safe for Will before he’d even been allowed to apply for this opportunity. A slight smile tugged at Will’s lips. Tom, the real reason he was even on this path. It wasn't that there weren't other aspects of being a professional hero that appealed to him, spiting his father being number 1, but Will doubted that he would have had the resolve to take on such a difficult occupation without his brother backing him up every step of the way.
The bus suddenly came to a halt, brakes squealing a little as they worked hard to cease the spinning of the vehicle’s wheels. He was here. Will tentatively rose from his seat, reaching into his pocket to ensure he still had the ID card he’d used earlier. It had all the basics on it, name, quirk and class. Without it, there was no chance he would get in, apparently the defenses around the main gate would put many military bases to shame. That being said, the gates didn't seem imposing as Will stepped from the bus, no, instead they seemed more than welcoming. His future was calling! He was still nervous, but now that he was here there was a sense of all the pieces falling into place. With some newfound confidence he walked up to the guard posted beside the massive metal door, offering his ID and giving the burly man plenty of time to ensure it was legit. Surprisingly, the man didn't even look at the plastic card, instead he looked at a small panel built into the gate itself. As soon as the ID was exposed to the gate a green light flashed on the panel, signaling for the great doors to slide open. Of course it was automated just like the bus, IHA was top of the line after all.
Once inside the gates Will navigated his way to the class A homeroom through a combination of the IHA app on his phone, the maps on the building walls and one awkward conversation with another student when he found himself in the gym by accident. The complex was insane, miles of buildings stretched out before him and it was mind boggling to consider that it all came under the IHA banner.
Eventually however he did actually find the correct room and was somewhat surprised to find himself the first person to arrive, especially after all the hassle he’d gone through to get there. The room was pretty simple, a series of lockers lining the far wall and an interactive whiteboard at the front of the room behind the teacher’s desk. There was nothing on the desk but a single pair of sunglasses, something Will figured was best to leave well alone.
Taking the opportunity to choose wherever he’d like to sit he gravitated towards the back of the room, dumping his bag beneath his desk before sitting down. The silence was deafening. Hopefully the teacher would get here soon…
It was with the irritation of a man who had barely caught 4 hours of sleep that Will slapped blindly at his alarm clock. After a few seconds of clawing at the air he managed to hit snooze, a sigh of relief escaping his lips as it’s insistent bleeping ceased. His bleary grey eyes opened to the sight of the morning sun trickling into his dorm between the curtains, casting a wedge of light into the otherwise dark room. No chance of getting a little more shut eye then. Not on what may well be the single most important day of his life, for better or worse.
Swinging his legs out of bed he threw the covers off, stumbling into the bathroom to begin his morning routine. It seemed horribly mundane considering he’d be attending IHA for the first time today, the glamorous life of a pro hero distilled down into brushing his teeth and fighting his bed head. In a way it was kind of comforting, some things never changed.
Will powered through the morning in record time and was standing at the door in under 15 minutes, fed, dressed and unable to shake the nerves that were tugging at his insides. He lingered for a moment before gently slapping each side of his face and doing his best to dispel any notion of failure, confidently stepping out of his room, and beginning the journey to IHA. It wasn’t going to take long; the academy had gone out of their way to ensure there were buses that regularly went by the student accommodation that would be able to drop students off right in front of the main gates.
While waiting for the bus to arrive a small crowd of other people from the accommodation began to form around Will and he couldn’t help but wonder if any of them would be joining him in class A. He understood that classes were kept on the small side at IHA, the academy living by the philosophy that they could provide a better quality of education if their teachers aren’t stretched as thinly. That was fine by Will, he’d been in public schools before and knew all too well how easy it was for a voice to be drowned out in the crowd.
The bus arrived a minute or two before schedule, a double decker painted a tasteful white with green accents. It had the IHA logo and name on it’s side but despite this the bus functioned like any other in Grafton city, and was open to anybody who wanted to use it. This wasn’t surprising considering the city council and IHA were basically the twin heads of the same governing body. Being a student did have its perks though…
“Where to?” Asked the driver, a portly man with a shock of pink hair and a kindly smile on his face.
“The academy, cheers.” Replied Will, flashing the card he’d been mailed by IHA when he was first accepted into their program.
The scanner beside the driver flashed a green light upon being exposed to the card, and he indicated that Will was free to take a seat, an offer the young man was quick to take him up on. The student card was a handy bit of kit, there were places all over Regat island where it could be used to access free services. And of course there was no way to get inside the academy without one.
Once the bus set off it was an uneventful journey, but it did give Will a fantastic chance to really soak in the beauty of Grafton city, something he hadn’t allowed himself to do until now during his short time here so far. The city was state of the art, plenty of metal and glass, but at the same time there was life everywhere Will looked. Meticulously designed areas of woodland blended seamlessly with the infrastructure the city needed, leaving the island a haven for both people and wildlife. The weirdest part was how clean everything was. Back home in the UK every city would have at least some trash thrown about, discarded carelessly by some asshole who hadn’t quite got to grips with the concept of a bin just yet. It probably helped that Regat authorities were pretty strict with who they allowed on the island in the first place reasoned Will. This island, and the city that had grown on it, were the safest places on the planet.
It wasn't long before the imposing wall that surrounded IHA came into view, a seemingly never-ending expanse of metal that sealed off the prestigious academy from the rest of the world. Occasionally he'd spy a grass covered rooftop peeking out just above the barrier but for the most part the school was as shrouded as usual. Of course, it made sense that they didn't let just anybody into this place, it would be a disaster to see the next generation of heroes wiped out by a particularly ambitious villain who just waltzed in. Not to mention the effect it would have on the reputation of the place. That reputation was the main reason his mother had even tolerated the idea of him being a hero, especially after what had happened to Tom. It had taken hours of the two brothers convincing her that this was safe for Will before he’d even been allowed to apply for this opportunity. A slight smile tugged at Will’s lips. Tom, the real reason he was even on this path. It wasn't that there weren't other aspects of being a professional hero that appealed to him, spiting his father being number 1, but Will doubted that he would have had the resolve to take on such a difficult occupation without his brother backing him up every step of the way.
The bus suddenly came to a halt, brakes squealing a little as they worked hard to cease the spinning of the vehicle’s wheels. He was here. Will tentatively rose from his seat, reaching into his pocket to ensure he still had the ID card he’d used earlier. It had all the basics on it, name, quirk and class. Without it, there was no chance he would get in, apparently the defenses around the main gate would put many military bases to shame. That being said, the gates didn't seem imposing as Will stepped from the bus, no, instead they seemed more than welcoming. His future was calling! He was still nervous, but now that he was here there was a sense of all the pieces falling into place. With some newfound confidence he walked up to the guard posted beside the massive metal door, offering his ID and giving the burly man plenty of time to ensure it was legit. Surprisingly, the man didn't even look at the plastic card, instead he looked at a small panel built into the gate itself. As soon as the ID was exposed to the gate a green light flashed on the panel, signaling for the great doors to slide open. Of course it was automated just like the bus, IHA was top of the line after all.
Once inside the gates Will navigated his way to the class A homeroom through a combination of the IHA app on his phone, the maps on the building walls and one awkward conversation with another student when he found himself in the gym by accident. The complex was insane, miles of buildings stretched out before him and it was mind boggling to consider that it all came under the IHA banner.
Eventually however he did actually find the correct room and was somewhat surprised to find himself the first person to arrive, especially after all the hassle he’d gone through to get there. The room was pretty simple, a series of lockers lining the far wall and an interactive whiteboard at the front of the room behind the teacher’s desk. There was nothing on the desk but a single pair of sunglasses, something Will figured was best to leave well alone.
Taking the opportunity to choose wherever he’d like to sit he gravitated towards the back of the room, dumping his bag beneath his desk before sitting down. The silence was deafening. Hopefully the teacher would get here soon…