CHAPTER 3: The tiny black creature hovered in front of me like this was the most normal thing in the world. My leg throbbed so hard I could barely think, but somehow that wasn’t the strangest part of my day anymore. “You’re… floating,” I managed. Plagg stretched lazily in midair. “Yeah, I do that. You humans don’t. Bit of a design flaw.” I blinked at him. “What are you?” “A kwami,” he said, as if that explained everything. “And you’re the kid fated to use the Cat Miraculous. Congratulations, by the way. You’re about to become a superhero.” I stared. “A… what?” What do you mean fated? And what is a Miraculous? Plagg rolled his exhaustion " Fate has chosen you to use the Miraculous of Destruction, save the world from Hawkmoth who is the badguy and..feed me" I frowned still trying to comprehend what he said. I don't understand how 'fate' finds a model who can barely run at times as hero material. He zipped closer until his nose almost touched mine. “Look, kid, there’s a giant rock monster smashing up your school. You want to help or not?” My breath caught for some reason. Maybe it was the screams outside. Or the shaking walls. Or the fear in everyone’s eyes. “I do,” I whispered. “But I can’t even walk properly right now.” Plagg shrugged. “Magic fixes that. Transform and you’ll be fine.” I hesitated. My leg pulsed again, sharp and unforgiving. I didn’t know if I could even stand, let alone fight anything. But I had to try...I mean if 'fate' said so...even though I still think it got the wrong guy. I swallowed hard. My heart pounded. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew one thing: People needed help. “What do I do?” Plagg grinned. “Say: Plagg, claws out.” The words felt strange on my tongue, but I said them anyway. “Plagg… claws out.” Light exploded around me — warm, powerful, alive. It wrapped around my body like a second skin, lifting me off the floor. The pain in my leg vanished instantly, replaced by a rush of energy so intense it made me gasp. When the light faded, I wasn’t Adrien anymore. I stood tall, balanced, strong. My body felt weightless, like I could leap across rooftops. I was wearing a black leather suit with a long belt as my tail. A long metal staff rested in my hand, humming with potential. I flexed my leg experimentally. No pain. Not even a twinge. “This is… incredible,” I breathed. Plagg — now nowhere in sight — spoke from somewhere inside me. “Told you. Now go save the day, kid.” I pushed open the door and sprinted down the hallway — actually sprinted. My footsteps were silent, my movements fluid. I felt like I could outrun the wind. Outside, the courtyard was chaos. Students scattered in every direction, teachers shouting for order. Somewhere in the distance, something roared. I extended my staff, and it shot upward like it had a mind of its own. I grabbed it and vaulted onto the nearest rooftop, landing with a grace I’d never had before. “Okay,” I muttered. “Find the bad guy. Stop the attack. Easy.” I scanned the streets below, searching for anything out of place. Then something red flashed in my peripheral vision. Before I could react, a blur swung toward me on a yo‑yo string — a yo‑yo, seriously? — and crashed straight into my chest. “WOAH—!” We tumbled across the rooftop in a tangle of limbs, momentum carrying us until we skidded to a stop. I groaned, dazed. “What was that—?” A girl’s voice, breathless and startled, answered: “Sorry! I didn’t see you there!” I looked up. Blue eyes. Red suit. Spots. And that’s when everything changed.
