It was time for my next training session. This time it was with Royal.

"Okay, so today we're gonna be talking moral dilemmas, and making quick decisions. Because you will have to make a lot of quick decisions once you become a hero." Royal said promptly.

"Okay. Examples?" I asked curiously.

"So this is a common example, and even civilians get asked. There are five people tied to a train track, and a train is coming towards them. You have the option to hit a lever that puts the train on a different track where there is a worker on the tracks instead." He tilted his head slightly. "What would you do?"

"Well... logically speaking, I would hit the lever, because it's four less deaths, but I don't like the idea that one human life is worth more than another... but I suppose the worker could hear the train and move out of the way. So I'd hit the lever."

The hero nodded approvingly. "Good choice. Ok, this one is more personal to heroes. A villain gives you a choice- you let them kill ten random civilians and your best friend lives, or you let them kill your best friend and ten random civilians live."

Oh. That one is a lot more personal to heroes. "Well... I would think that I'd choose my best friend to live- let me finish." I added sharply as he started to shake his head. "But in real life, I'd choose the civilians to live, because I'd be a hero, and a hero needs to think about the greater good. No matter what they loose themself."

"Well done. As tough as a decision like that would be to make, you would have made the right one. Okay, time for some quick decisions."

"A fire has started, and you need to put it out. The nearest source of water is about ten minutes away. You can try and put the fire out by yourself, with more of a chance of getting hurt, but it does less damage to whatever is on fire, or you run to the water source and back, a trip of about twenty minutes, with more a of a chance of putting the fire out, but more damage has been done. You have to choose immediately." I thought for a minute.

Okay... if I tried to put it out by myself, there's a large chance it wouldn't get put out, and I'd probably get hurt. Then the fire would continue to spread, and cause just as much damage as it would if I chose the water, if not more. So logically...

"I'd go and get the water." Royal nodded.

"You're getting the hang of this. Okay, not many more now."

——

I pushed the door open with a yawn. "See you around Royal."

"Bye."

I was immediately greeted by Zaeim. "That sounded boring."

"It was. It was like, moral dilemmas and stuff-" I stopped, staring.

There was a large scar on his neck, stretching from the base of the side of his neck to just under his eyes.

He followed my gaze. "Oh yeah, that. From my not so great encounter with Mercator. Apparently, the toxin- poison, liquid thing, whatever it's called- was eating away at my flesh while spreading. I was really lucky to make it to the hospital before it spread to my eye, according to the doctors." Zaeim shrugged nonchalantly.

Puffy burst through the door. "Have any of you seen Lucendi? I need to talk with him about a mission he's potentially gonna be signed up for."

"I think he went to the cafe down the road- Cara's." Zaeim said calmly.

"I can walk you there if you want. I work there- OH MY GOD I WORK THERE. I'M TEN MINUTES LATE FOR MY SHIFT." Puffy raised one eyebrow.

"I'm sure your boss won't be mad. Now come on."

"I'll come with you guys. I have nothing better to do." Zaeim said with a shrug.

——

I rushed into the cafe, greeted by Karl, who was waiting with one eyebrow raised.

"Did she notice?" I asked, rushing up to the counter.

"No. She left to go do something like ten minutes before your shift started. What we're you doing anyway?" He glanced between me, Zaeim and Puffy with one eyebrow still raised.

"I was just uh, at home. Ran into Zaeim and Captain Puffy on the way, and since my dad's only assigning available heroes to be my guards, they offered to come with me...?" I let out a nervous laugh.

To my surprise, he believed me. "You know, so many heroes come here, people have started calling it the Hero Cafe, honestly."

"Really?" I asked as I went behind the counter.

"Mhm. Lots more people have started coming, actually, hoping to get a glimpse of heroes. It's really good for business."

"Wouldn't that make it a target for villains?" I asked calmly.

"Yeah, probably. But it's also good for business, so..." he shrugged, breaking off the conversation to take Puffy and Zaeim's orders.

I glanced around as Puffy sat down next to Lucendi- Foolish- who was already there, talking to him in a low urgent voice. Zaeim sat down on the next table over, trying to look like he wasn't eavesdropping.

"Oi, Tommy!" Karl yelled. The blonde boy rushed over.

"What is it?"

"Can you take these drinks to Captain Puffy and Zaeim?"

Tommy spun around, staring at the heroes. "Absolutely yes!" He grabbed the drinks, cautiously walking over in an attempt to not spill them.

I followed closely, ready to clean up any spillages, and managed to overhear some of their conversation.

"But yeah, that Deactivator kid is in serious danger." Puffy said, looking concerned. "I took a look at some of the pictures Crepitus had."

"We need to get in contact with the boy somehow." Lucendi said quietly.

I turned to Tommy, half trying to see if he had spilt the drinks and half to see if he had overheard the heroes.

He had turned white as a sheet, and his hands were trembling slightly.

"I'll take these." I muttered. "You can go on your break early Tommy- you look sick." He nodded slowly, walking away.

I carefully handed Puffy her drink, and she turned to me with a frown. "What happened to that kid? He looks like his whole family has just been killed in front of him."

"That was a dark description, but yes, I agree, he does look like that." Lucendi hummed to himself quietly.

"I don't know. He was really excited to bring the 'almighty heroes' their drinks, and then he must have overheard your conversation. Don't know why it would concern him though." I said with a shrug, turning to Zaeim and handing him his drink.

"Maybe he's friends with Deactivator." Lucendi said pointedly.

"Maybe..." I agreed, internally vowing to keep an incredibly close eye on Tommy.