Four thousand years ago, everything changed.
A mysterious outbreak swept across the globe, turning millions into eerie, stone-like statues. For weeks, they stood frozen in time silent, lifeless, forgotten.
This event gave birth to a new kind of existence.
But after four long months of silence, something miraculous occurred.
The stone statues began to crack, and one by one, those entombed within were freed. Yet, they were no longer ordinary. The transformation had changed them gifted them with abilities that defied the natural world.
Some could command the elements. Others reshaped their bodies at will. A rare few could even bend minds.
At first, the world stood in awe. But awe soon turned to fear… and fear into chaos.
A global war broke out a brutal conflict between normal humans and the newly awakened Chosen. Civilizations fractured. Cities fell. Humanity stood on the edge of annihilation.
Then came Damane Smithone of the strongest Chosen in history. Through sheer force and vision, he brought unity. He ended the war. His leadership forged a new era.
Now, ninety years later, the world is rebuilt but different.
Children born with gifts are sent to academies, trained to serve as government soldiers or compete in the legendary Games of the Chosen, a global tournament that crowns the elite.
No one remembers what caused the outbreak. No one knows the origin of the Four Stones.
But a prophecy lingers whispered in ancient tongues that the truth will be revealed.
And when it does… it might shake the world once again.
"Bro, don't sweat it you'll clap 'em next time," Tinashe said with a grin, tossing his lunch wrapper into the bin like he just made a game-winning shot.
"Yeah, I wasn't even trying, you know? I'm the strongest," Dwayne said, chest puffed, absolutely lying through his molars. "Had to hold back. Can't go all out on a rookie."
He leaned back in his chair like a retired champ, eyes closed, rocking lazily like he had nothing to prove.
Then a sweet voice cut through the moment like a knife through his ego.
"Oh really? You weren't trying? Then why didn't you fight seriously?"
Tinashe turned and saw her. His soul left his body. "Uh-oh," he muttered like a man who'd just seen his report card go public.
"Of course not!" Dwayne said instantly, cracking his eyes open in panic. "I mean, c'mon, it'd be rude to go full beast mode on her…"
"Oh really?" Ashylene said again, softer now, but somehow way more threatening.
The chair stopped rocking.
"Hey bro," Dwayne whispered, barely moving his lips.
"Yeah bro?" Tinashe whispered back like they were hostages.
"She's behind me, isn't she?"
Tinashe nodded like a guilty man in court.
Dwayne slowly opened his eyes fully and plastered the fakest smile known to mankind across his face.
"Hi Ashylene!" he squeaked, voice cracking like cheap glass.
Ashylene smiled sweetly, looking like she definitely heard everything.
"How have you been?" she asked, sounding genuinely nice. "I thought you might not show up until tomorrow."
Dwayne shrugged, still sweating. "Like I said, it was nothing. Just a scratch."
The giant bandage on his head said otherwise.
She plopped down next to Dwayne and giggled. "I like you guys. You're different from everyone else here." She shot Tinashe a wink that made his brain buffer.
He rolled his eyes. "You do realize we're the losers, right? Bottom of the food chain. We're basically NPCs."
"What is bro saying? I'm the NPC?" Tinashe thought, staring at Dwayne like he just committed verbal treason.
She shook her head with a soft laugh. "Says who? You guys actually have personality.That's rare around here."
Dwayne immediately puffed up like a budget anime protagonist. "No-no-no, you're the loser, bro. I'm the fifth strongest in this school."
He widened his eyes dramatically like that would add credibility.
Tinashe snorted. "Please. Sixth, bro. After Miss Ashylene right here. She could fold you like a bad omelette."
They bickered for a good five minutes loud, ridiculous, and completely unserious while Ashylene watched, amused. In her eyes, they weren't losers. Just two dorks who had each other's backs.
She giggled again. "Do you mind if I become your friend?"
Both boys froze, then glanced at each other. Without a word, they snapped into a secret huddle like football coaches mid-strategy.
"What do you think, bro?" Tinashe whispered, face serious like it was national security.
"Hmmm, she's suspicious. What if she wants to play us?" Dwayne said, narrowing his eyes and stroking his chin like a low-budget detective.
"But if she does, at least we'll get some clout," Tinashe replied, mirroring the chin rub with equal intensity. "Our status in school's about to level up."
"Mmm-hmm, agreed," Dwayne said, squinting at him like they were plotting world domination.
Ashylene stood there, watching the two weirdos huddled in deep fake-strategic thought. She tilted her head, completely baffled, then smiled and shook her head.
"Look at that, she's smiling. Mmm-hmm. Very suspicious," Tinashe whispered like he just uncovered a government conspiracy.
"Okay, you are our friend now," they both declared in unison like it was an official promotion.
Ashylene just giggled softly, saying nothing.
"She laughs too much," Dwayne muttered, side-eyeing her. "Definitely hiding something."
Ashylene giggled softly, then glanced at them. "Do you know my sisters?"
Tinashe raised an eyebrow and looked at Dwayne, who nodded casually.
"Yeah, I know them. Aren't they supposed to be in the same year as us just a year younger? 'Cause, y'know, geniuses," Dwayne said with a hint of sarcasm.
Ashylene smiled faintly and looked down at the ground. "Yeah… they are."
Her expression dimmed, just for a moment. Something unspoken flickered in her eyes.
Tinashe tilted his head. "Whoa, hold up. Why do you look like you envy them? Aren't you supposed to be the strongest youth in your family?"
Ashylene looked up and smiled again, brushing away the moment of vulnerability. "Well… now I am."
Dwayne glanced over his shoulder and asked, "Also, I heard you came with your childhood friend. Where is she, anyway?"
"She's coming tomorrow," Ashylene replied calmly. "Today, she had to take some kind of qualifying test for her family. You know how they are."
"And why would we know that?" Tinashe and Dwayne both said with expressionless faces showing how they didn't understand how the five families work.
A group of girls passed and it was clear they where surprised that the two weirdos of the school where sitting with someone like Ashylene.
"What is she doing with them if all peopy,?" A whisper flew from the group.
"ahhh classic why not me behavior," Tinashe said as he scoffed at them
Ashylene didn't mind and looked at Tinashe and then said "You're the weakest right and also the smartest on the school, book smart correct," she asked as she leaned in to him and this made Dwayne uncomfortable.
"OH Yeah, that's true but this is a chosen school, book smart isn't really valued," Tinashe said.
"True but in the real world, it's just as important as having powerful abilities...Being smart that is," she said as she leaned back and looked at her right as her hair blew sparklingly.
A group of girls walked by, their whispers loud enough to cut through the air like a knife.
"What's she doing with *them*? Like, seriously, why?" one hissed, eyes wide.
Tinashe scoffed, smirking. "Ahh, classic 'why not me' syndrome."
Ashylene just smiled, unfazed. She turned to Tinashe and leaned in, eyes twinkling. "You're the weakest, right? But also the smartest in school. Book smart, yeah?"
Dwayne shifted uncomfortably, eyeing their sudden closeness.
"Yeah, yeah, that's true," Tinashe said, grinning. "But this is a chosen school. Book smarts? Nobody really cares."
Ashylene leaned back, hair shimmering in the light like a scene from a movie, and said, "True... but out there, in the real world, book smarts matter just as much as power."
As she the said that the bell school bell rang, Ashylene stood up as she said"it was nice meeting you my new friends....catch you tomorrow," she smiled and faced forward leaving the two of them.
"Hmmm so that just happy," Tinashe said as he raised and eye bro nodding
As she finished, the school bell rang sharply. Ashylene stood up, smiling warmly.
"It was nice meeting you, my new friends… catch you tomorrow," she said, then turned and walked away, leaving Tinashe and Dwayne staring after her.
Tinashe raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly.
"Hmmm… so that just happened, huh?"
"Mmm...Yup," Dwayne replied.