Unmasked

The day begins like any other. Orion Crest Academy hums with life. But beneath the surface, a storm brews.School Courtyard – LunchtimeKaldar sits with Riko and Tess under the shade of a tree. They’re laughing about a failed chemistry experiment.Riko: I swear, the beaker exploded before I even touched it.Tess: You probably built a mini reactor again.Kaldar: (Smiling) You two are chaos incarnate.Suddenly, the sky darkens. A ripple tears through the air. A Riftborn assassin materializes—targeting Kaldar directly.Riftborn Assassin: The Echo Core must be extracted. The Hero must fall.Riko: What the hell is that!?Tess: Kaldar—get behind us!Kaldar stands, eyes glowing. He hesitates—but the assassin lunges.Crystal: No more hiding. You have to show them.Kaldar clenches his fists. Energy surges.Kaldar: The Hero!Vuaaaaam! A burst of light erupts. His armor forms. His sword appears. Riko and Tess stare in shock.Riko: You’re…Tess: You’re the Hero!?Kaldar deflects the assassin’s strike, then counters with a rapid slash. The Riftborn vanishes in a burst of static.Aftermath – Rooftop SilenceKaldar sits with Riko and Tess on the school rooftop. No one speaks for a moment.Kaldar: I didn’t want you to find out like that.Riko: Dude… you’re a galactic warrior.Tess: And you still hang out with us?Kaldar: You’re my friends. That’s why I kept it secret. I didn’t want to drag you into this.Riko: Too late for that.Tess: We’re in now. And we’re not backing out.Kaldar smiles, a weight lifted.Crystal: They took it better than I expected.Kaldar: Yeah. Maybe I’m not alone after all.To Be Continued…