The classroom was buzzing with excitement.
Whispers swirled like storm clouds as students huddled in corners, eyes darting toward their phones, scrolling through footage from earlier that morning.
"Did you see him?" Alya exclaimed to Nino, holding her phone up. "The wings, the flames—he literally flew like a phoenix!"
"No way he's a regular hero," Nino replied. "That dude was breathing fire, man. He melted metal with a punch."
In the back row, Kai sat still, his fingers twitching under the desk. Sweat clung to his brow despite the chilly air. His hoodie masked the wear of battle, but the heat in his veins hadn't faded.
Juleka glanced at him from across the row.
She said nothing, as always, but her eyes stayed on him longer than usual. Not suspicious—just curious.
"Alright, class," Ms. Bustier called. "Settle down! I know we've all seen the new hero this morning, but let's focus. Today we're going to be talking about medieval symbolism in French literature."
Groans followed.
Kai allowed himself to exhale, grateful for the distraction. Anything to stop thinking about the flames, the heat, the explosion of power he had unleashed.
The Dupain-Cheng bakery bustled with early afternoon customers. Kai stood near the side kitchen, watching Sabine and his mother collaborate on a batch of almond croissants.
"More cardamom, Ma," Kai muttered.
Akari blinked at him. "You can't taste that from here."
"I can, though."
Sabine laughed. "He's right. You're developing a chef's nose, Kai."
Kai gave a lopsided smile, distracted. Even surrounded by the scent of pastries and warmth, his thoughts drifted—to the fire, the transformation, and the whispering voice of Hawk Moth during the battle.
"Akari," Sabine said softly, once Kai stepped away, "he seems... shaken."
Akari nodded, kneading dough. "He had a dream last night. Something about fire and wings."
Sabine glanced at her quietly. "Or maybe something more than a dream."
Meanwhile… In the Shadows of Paris…
In the cluttered depths of a local auto repair shop, a hunched man wiped grease from his hands.
Claude Durand was a skilled mechanic—once revered in his neighborhood. Known for building intricate motorbikes and fine-tuning engines with surgeon-like precision.
But progress had forgotten him.
Now, he spent his days fixing electric scooters for tourists and installing tires for online delivery bikes. His latest invention—a hover-bike model—was laughed out of the local tech fair. Sponsors dropped him. Comments online branded him a relic.
"Useless."
"Overcomplicated junk."
"Get with the times, old man."
He clenched his jaw.
Sparks from his soldering torch danced in front of his eyes like angry fireflies.
He'd show them.
He'd show them all.
And that's when the shadows twisted.
A deep, silken voice seeped into the garage like a serpent curling around the rafters.
"Claude Durand… your brilliance deserves recognition. But they belittled you. Laughed. Humiliated. I can help you show them your true strength."
Claude flinched. "Who... who's there?"
A glowing purple butterfly fluttered down before him, landing gently on the back of a cracked engine schematic.
"I am Hawk Moth," the voice continued. "And I offer you the power to make Paris witness your genius. All I ask in return... is that you bring me the Phoenix Miraculous."
Claude's pupils shrank.
"Yes," he whispered. "Give me the strength… and I'll burn the city with my machines if I have to."
The butterfly glowed, and in a flash of shadowed light, it merged with Claude's sketchpad.
His figure warped—clothes stretching into coiled copper plating, gauntlets crackling with stored energy, and steam-powered shoulder braces hissed as pistons slammed into place.
Elsewhere…
Kai walked alone through a quiet stretch of Rue Montorgueil. The sky had dimmed into a warm orange, clouds laced with gold.
Fiero zipped beside his shoulder. "Something's coming."
Kai tensed. "I feel it."
"Then get ready."
"Wait. Not here."
Kai ducked into an alley.
"Blaze up."
"Phoenix Blaze!"
The transformation ignited like a volcano. Gold fire shot skyward, curling into the shape of a bird before collapsing into his new form. His mask clicked into place. His heartbeat steadied.
And then he heard it.
The screech of metal. The hissing of steam.
The ground trembled as a mechanized monstrosity clanked its way down the street. Claude—now The Mechanic—was encased in armor made of gears and heat-resistant plating. Wires lashed from his back like metallic tentacles, snapping at signs and lampposts.
"Come out, firebird!" he roared. "Face the progress you fear!"
Kai flew onto a rooftop, assessing the situation. No civilians in direct danger yet, but damage was growing. Steam jets released superheated blasts across the cobblestones, melting tires and cracking glass.
"Fiero, how do we handle this?"
"Gadget-heavy villain. Keep moving. His armor's slow, but deadly. You're faster."
"Got it."
Kai dove like a bullet, crashing into the villain's shoulder with a flaming kick. The Mechanic stumbled, gears screaming.
"You! You're the one they love now, aren't you?" The Mechanic shouted. "A student with a spark. I'll show them real engineering!"
He slammed a fist into the ground. Out of a hidden panel, a rotating turret burst free, launching plasma bolts.
Kai dodged in mid-air, spiraling, wings trailing flames. "What's with all the overkill?"
"No one respects quiet genius anymore!" Mechanic shouted. "So I'll make them listen—with fire and thunder!"
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Then let me show you real fire."
He activated Wing Surge—a mid-range power that boosted his flame radius into a surrounding shockwave. Flames burst outward, frying the turret in seconds.
"Where's the Akuma, Fiero?"
"The chest coil. Behind his armor plate."
Kai flew low and circled. "I've got one shot."
He let the wings flare once more and plunged into a spinning dive, slamming his talons into the center of the chestplate. The metal cracked, and the glowing coil shattered.
A single black butterfly fluttered out.
"Gotcha."
He clenched his palm. "Phoenix Seal!"
The golden ring of fire reappeared. The Akuma purified instantly.
The Mechanic staggered as his armor melted away, piece by piece, revealing the disheveled Claude beneath.
"I just… wanted my inventions to matter…"
Kai landed beside him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "They do. You just forgot what they were meant for."
Moments Later…
Kai flew to the nearest rooftop, out of sight. He let out a long breath and closed his eyes. The flames receded.
The mask fell away.
The pain in his chest... didn't.
He wasn't just fighting villains.
He was fighting broken dreams.
And somehow, that was harder than anything Hawk Moth could throw at him.