[Sea Temple Moments]

// Jack / swordswinger & “stick boy” / group leader //

Sidekick Track (swordsman)

—Truly believes he should be at the Hero Academy and constantly brings this up to professors and the Headmaster. Due to not having a “hero gimmick,” he isn’t accepted. Jack argues that heroes shouldn’t need a gimmick to save the day, but is ignored.

After acting out one too many times trying to be a hero, one professor demotes him to the “Stick Boy” in their defense class and he is stuck collecting materials for weaponry. Students joke that he now has a gimmick.

Can get jealous when around Hero Academy students or alumni. After finding out Vos CHOSE to be on the sidekick track, he pressures his friend to reconsider… and maybe bring him along too. Vos always declines.

Flaws: overconfident and stubborn, thinks he can do anything he puts his mind to alone, does not see the importance in sidekicks

—By the end of the AU, Jack learns that he can’t do everything by himself and gains appreciation for sidekicks. (dynamic character)

During the climax, he takes the Headmaster on alone with nothing but a stick—a stick he doesn’t realize Vos enchanted. Jack is fully expecting to lose, but doesn’t care because his friend is seriously injured and nothing else matters to him.

// Vos / alchemist & enchanter / group support //

Sidekick Track (dual majors)

Declined an invite to the Hero Academy, and enrolled in Sidekick Academy instead. Jack is VERY jealous and doesn’t understand why his friend would turn down such an opportunity.

Excells in both his courses of study, but hates being the center of attention; will go out of his way to place 2nd/ get Bs on tests just to avoid spotlight. Professors know this and congratulate him when other students aren’t around.

Confident in his knowledge, but not in decision-making. Often hesitates when put in lead roles, occasionally leading to students getting hurt. Would much rather stay on the sidelines and help the hero with whatever they need.

Flaws: does not trust himself to make decisions, tends to get burnt out trying to juggle tasks, can be swayed by authority figures like heroes or the Headmaster

—Learns to take initiative and better weed out poor examples. (more of a static character)

Climax: After Sammy fails to show up for her part in their plan, Vos opts to take her place and sneak around planting the fire charges. He gets caught and is nearly killed by a bookshelf. No other context here-

// Sammy: / archer & thief / wildcard //

Doesn’t want to be a hero or a sidekick, opting to travel and find herself in the world. Most residents see this as extremely selfish and shun her from the community.

—Sees both schools as needless ways to distract people from finding their true selves.

Flaws: distrustful of people, tendency to flee from problems

—Learns to be more trusting and realizes that the academies highlight what the students are best at/ passionate about and help them develop their abilities

Climax: During the prep for the final fight, she abandons the group, thinking that the schools are not worth saving. Nurm convinces her to go back with him and she ends up rescuing Vos while Jack is distracted with the Headmaster.

// Nurm: / nitwit / group guide //

Sees daily life in his village as monotonous and ends up sneaking away. Very quickly meets Sammy who has also run away, and the two become traveling buddies.

Does not see the value in cartography and finds it very boring, much to the dismay of his village.

—Realizes that cartography is more than just scribbling on paper and, ironically, his longing for sightseeing goes hand in hand with mapmaking. Makes amend with his mentors and agrees to bring back maps from his travels.

Villain: The Headmaster

Headmaster of Sidekick Academy, childhood friend (potential crush) to the Hero Academy’s Headmaster

Feels cheated out of being the head of the Hero Academy (parallel and foil character to Jack) and tries taking both schools by force.

The Headmaster takes a particular interest in Vos after finding out he declined the hero invitation. He acts as a mentor to boost Vos’ confidence and abilities in the hopes he will help him take over become the new head of Hero Academy.

Not-so plot twist: he hired the villain in the hopes of ruining the reputation of Hero Academy’s headmaster. Reputation plan fails and he moves to plan B: using the stolen hero’s gimmicks to take over via brute force.

Gets defeated by a stick lol-

—Later learns the headmaster at Hero Academy only took the position because it seemed like a more stressful workload and he wanted his friend to have the more fun sidekick overseer job. And he would have swapped titles if the villain had just asked- 💀

Side note. I love that every time I hear people’s ideas for the villain in this story, it’s always the principal.

[== Extra Worldbuilding Notes: ==]

I can’t decide whether the Hero/Sidekick Academies are in a different portal world (fantasy world where the schools raise heroes to venture out into unknown portals to explore/save those worlds) or whether everything is just really far away from where seasons one and two take place. Either way, Jack catches Romeo’s eye later on and definitely no evil Sea Temple shenanigans take place…

The academies complement each other and work in tandem rather than be rivals since neither could exist without the other. Both are highly respected by residents of the area.