The soft thrum of energy whispered through the room as Aiden Blaze reappeared within the quiet of his apartment. The warm golden glow of the Helmet of Fate pulsed gently atop a sleek, rune-engraved table. He shrugged off his cloak and moved toward the hovering pages of the Book of Thoth, already flipping with a will of their own. Symbols of forgotten ages shimmered across the vellum, decoded in real time by the analytical precision of Great Sage.
> "Shield incantation: viable for twenty-second reinforcement or reflection loop."
Aiden smiled, eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction.
"Nice. Next, I just need to learn how to read minds. Then I can finally go to sleep," he murmured, as his thoughts drifted toward tomorrow's internship.
The next day, a burst of teleportation light preceded Aiden's arrival at the heart of glamour: Mt. Lady's Hero Agency. Walls lined with glossy posters and well-dressed PR staff moved at a calculated frenzy. Amidst the bustle stood Mt. Lady herself, resplendent in her signature purple and gold hero costume. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she turned toward him.
"Well, well—that's a good entrance, but next time make sure to notify someone," she teased, hand on hip.
She tossed him a stylized ID badge bearing the agency's insignia.
"Come on. We've got a TV interview in an hour. Try not to charm everyone with your outfit."
Aiden tapped the side of his helm, and with a shimmer of golden energy, the Helmet of Fate vanished—leaving him still clad in his hero costume, the Amulet of Anubis subtly glowing beneath the collar.
"No promises," he said with a sly grin, adjusting his gloves.
He glanced around the agency's main hall, taking in the flash of cameras, the sound of busy footsteps, and the stylized posters of Mt. Lady plastered across the walls.
Turning to her, he asked, "Is there anything else I need to know?"
Mt. Lady shrugged casually. "There's nothing special you need to worry about."
She pointed toward a man standing nearby—middle-aged, dressed in a sharp but unassuming suit, clipboard in hand.
"You can go with him. He'll give you the tour and explain the basics."
She gave a playful wink. "I've got to head to makeup before the interview."
With that, she turned on her heel, striding off toward the back corridor, heels clicking with purpose, leaving Aiden to follow his assigned guide into the glittering chaos of the agency.
The man stepped forward, nodding politely. His voice was calm, efficient—clearly used to the daily chaos of a hero agency.
"Mr. Blaze, I'm Nakashima. I'll be showing you around the facility. This way, please."
Aiden fell into step beside him, golden cloak trailing faintly behind with a residual shimmer of magic.
They passed through a set of sliding glass doors into a wide corridor where the polished floor reflected the agency's brand colors: gold and violet. Framed screens played muted highlight reels of Mt. Lady's past rescues, interviews, and endorsements. Aiden's eyes scanned the posters and broadcast images.
"Most of our operations are handled from the second floor," Nakashima explained. "Public relations and merchandise approvals happen here. Upstairs is where the tactical team handles coordination for field support and emergency responses."
They stopped at a wide glass window overlooking the agency's control center. Holographic maps of the city glowed across tables, monitored by a handful of support staff. Nakashima gestured toward it.
"This is the core of our operations. All incoming threat alerts, traffic reports, and patrol directives go through this room. Mt. Lady likes to make quick decisions, so we try to keep the relay chain tight."
Aiden nodded thoughtfully. Great Sage silently absorbed every detail.
They continued past a training room—and into the staff lounge.
"She feels like a model rather than a hero," Aiden said mildly.
Nakashima gave a diplomatic smile.
"That's not true. While she does focus on her beauty and public image, she is still a good hero."
Just then, a message came through on Nakashima's earpiece. He listened briefly, then turned to Aiden.
"Time to get to the studio. They're ready for the interview. Follow me, please."
Aiden, without saying a word, just followed him.
The set was vibrant, polished, and saturated with light. Bright banners with Mt. Lady's logo framed the background while camera crews checked angles and ran sound tests.
Aiden stood off to the side, watching as Mt. Lady arrived—her makeup touched up, hair perfectly styled, smile already dialed to a charismatic ten.
"You're up after me," she said over her shoulder. "Just answer what you can and dodge what you can't. You'll be fine, golden boy."
Aiden tilted his head. "Why do I need an interview?"
She winked. "Isn't this what you wanted? At least, that's what I heard from your principal. So just be prepared."
Mt. Lady took the stage and dazzled the host with practiced charm. The interview played out smoothly in front of him.
Then the host turned.
"And now, for the first time, Mt. Lady's new intern! Please welcome—Doctor Fate!"
Aiden stepped forward calmly, golden threads of power subdued beneath his casual stride.
The host, a well-dressed man with a PR-trained smile, extended his hand.
"Welcome, Doctor Fate. Or should I say… U.A.'s golden mystery?"
Aiden returned the handshake with measured calm.
"Doctor Fate is fine."
The host gestured toward the seat beside Mt. Lady.
"You've stirred up quite a buzz. No Sports Festival appearance, no public record, and then suddenly—you're here. So let's start simple: who are you?"
Aiden sat down, his posture composed but relaxed.
"Aiden Blaze. U.A. student, Class 1-A."
"Well, you certainly made an impression. And now you're interning with Mt. Lady—how did that happen?"
Aiden gave a faint smile.
"She was on the list where I could intern. So, I did."
The host leaned forward slightly.
"We've caught glimpses—teleportation, energy shields, a lot of gold. Are those part of your quirk, or…?"
Aiden answered smoothly.
"Let's just say it's not your typical quirk. I draw from older, structured sources of power. The details are… classified."
> "Obfuscation within acceptable bounds," Great Sage noted.
"Ah, the mysterious type," the host said. "So, what do you hope to get from this internship?"
Aiden nodded thoughtfully.
"Real experience. Seeing how pros adapt when things don't go according to plan. That kind of sharpness matters."
"Well said," the host replied. "Last question—any message for viewers or your classmates at U.A.?"
Aiden looked toward the camera, eyes steady but calm.
"Don't get too comfortable with your life. The world changes fast."
As the interview ended, Aiden rose and followed Mt. Lady off-stage.
"You did fine," she said, tossing him a water bottle. "But next time? Maybe smile more and sound less like a Bond villain."
He took the bottle, deadpan.
"It shouldn't matter."