Chapter Text
People aren’t born equal. This is the greatest truth of this world, one I learned when I was four. People aren’t born equal, and so those who are strong are granted the right to lord over those weaker than they are. This isn’t right, but this is the rule of the world.
I know it all too well. In a world where 80% of the population has a particular power, a Quirk, I am one of the 20% born powerless. Quirkless. That’s what they call me, and none do it louder than Katsuki Bakugo – Kacchan, as I call him. His Quirk lets him produce explosions at will, and he is good with it. Because his Quirk is strong and versatile, people shower him with praise and keep telling him how great he is. And Bakugo revels in it. He believes himself superior to everyone else and plans to become a Hero… Foolish Kacchan, you don’t become a Hero through sheer strength. You need the heart of one too, a heart full of kindness to rescue people and keep them safe, and your heart is the very opposite of kind. You won’t become a Hero, not like that.
What about me? Well… I, too, want to become a Hero. But how does one become a Hero without a Quirk? That question keeps making me laugh. Quirkless doesn’t mean powerless, far from it. And besides, I discovered a way to even the playing field. Do you see this card in my hand? No, it isn’t made of bone. It is made of turtle shell. Not exactly the same, but still, close enough. Anyway, this card depicts a lady taming a lion. In the Major Arcana, this card is called Strength and represents, among others, self-control, mastery and confidence, but also misuse, violence and conservatism. Now, watch carefully…
PELEH NAPEAI
…Yep, that’s an energy blade that appeared. This, you see, is called Cardinal Magic, and I have spent the past year mastering it. Don’t ask me where I found out about it, this is a secret I save only for my friends. But yes, I can use magic. So, even though I am Quirkless, I am anything but powerless. Sure, Cardinal Magic is a bit tricky to use, but that’s why I enjoy it. You never know what you’ll draw next, so you have to stay on your toes and make plans on the spot. Fun.
I read once that magic is the art of telling Reality how to behave. Reality told me being Quirkless meant I am weak and harmless and I have no power on my own. I am going to use magic to tell Reality to shove it and become a Hero as well, one who rescues others. Because there are people like me out there who have no power and no one to help them, and I know all too well what it’s like. I won’t let them go through the same hardships I did.