Bace, a scrappy teen from the slums of Lumin City, is mocked for his lack of a defined Aether Spark. While others wield fire, water, or lightning, Bace's attempts at Spark activation fizzle, earning him the nickname "Sparkless." The chapter introduces the vibrant world of Aetherion, where Spark wielders compete in the annual Aether Trials to prove their worth. Bace sneaks into the Trials to prove himself but humiliates himself when his Spark fails spectacularly. However, a mysterious figure named Kael, a grizzled ex-champion, sees potential in Bace. When a monstrous entity called a Voidbeast attacks the Trials, Bace instinctively shields a younger kid, and his Prism Spark awakens in a chaotic burst of multicolored energy, hinting at his true power. The chapter ends with Kael taking Bace under his wing, warning him that his Spark could either save or doom Aetherion.
The arena's roar faded to a dull hum in Bace's ears, his vision swimming with afterimages of the prismatic light that had erupted from him. The Voidbeast, a writhing mass of shadow and teeth, staggered back, its red eyes flickering as Kael's lightning bolt crackled through its form. The crowd's screams morphed into gasps, then murmurs, as the dust settled. Bace's knees wobbled, the kid still clinging to his leg like a lifeline. His arm stung where the tendril had grazed him, blood seeping through his torn jacket, but the pain was distant, drowned by the pounding question in his head: What just happened?"Kid, you deaf?" Kael's gruff voice snapped Bace back to reality. The older man stood over him, lightning still sparking at his fingertips, his cloak billowing in the wind kicked up by the collapsing arena. "I said get out of here. You're a walking disaster."Bace blinked, the colors in his hands fading to nothing. "Disaster? I saved her!" He gestured to the girl, who was now being whisked away by a medic with a glowing Water Spark. "And I—whatever that was, it worked, didn't it?"Kael's scarred face twisted into something between a scowl and a smirk. "Worked? You nearly flattened half the stadium. Look around, Sparkless."Bace followed Kael's gaze. The arena was a wreck: bleachers cracked, holographic screens fritzing, and chunks of stone glowing faintly with residual Aether energy. The other Trial competitors, some still clutching their Sparks—flames, ice, vines—stared at Bace like he was a freak. Or worse, a threat. Zane, the Fire Spark prodigy, stood atop a pile of rubble, his crimson jacket untouched by the chaos, his eyes narrowed. "Tch. Still a glitch," he muttered, loud enough for Bace to hear.Bace's stomach twisted. He'd wanted to prove himself, not make things worse. "I didn't mean to—""Save it," Kael cut him off, grabbing his arm and yanking him toward the arena's exit. "You've got no idea what you're dealing with. Move, before the Council starts asking questions."The mention of the Aether Council sent a chill down Bace's spine. The Council oversaw all Spark wielders, their pristine white robes and glowing 7sigils a constant presence on Lumin City's billboards. They didn't take kindly to anomalies, and Bace was starting to realize he was the biggest anomaly of all.The streets of Lumin City were a blur of neon and noise as Kael dragged Bace through back alleys, away from the arena's chaos. The city pulsed with life: hoverbikes zipped overhead, their Aether-powered engines leaving trails of blue light; vendors hawked Spark-infused trinkets, promising "instant power boosts"; and holographic ads blared highlights from the Trials, conveniently skipping Bace's disaster. His face burned with embarrassment. He'd snuck into the Trials to prove he wasn't Sparkless, not to become a citywide punchline.Kael stopped in a grimy alley behind a noodle shop, its flickering sign casting green light over puddles of rainwater. He released Bace's arm, leaning against a wall, his Lightning Spark dimming to a faint crackle. "Alright, kid. Talk. What was that back there?"Bace rubbed his sore arm, glaring. "You tell me! You're the one calling it a 'Prism Spark.' I've never even heard of that!"Kael's eyes darkened, like he was staring through Bace into some distant memory. "You wouldn't have. It's not supposed to exist anymore. Last time someone wielded it, entire cities burned. You're lucky you only cracked a few bleachers."Bace's mouth went dry. "Burned? What do you mean, burned? I'm not—look, I just wanted to help that kid!""And you did. Barely." Kael's voice softened, just a fraction. "But that power? It's not like Fire or Water or any of the Sparks you see in the Trials. It's all of them, and none of them. Unstable. Dangerous. And if the Council gets wind of it, they'll lock you up faster than you can say 'Sparkless.'"Bace's heart raced. He'd spent his whole life scraping by in the slums, dodging bullies like Zane, dreaming of being a hero like the Champions on the billboards. Now he had a power—a real power—and it was a curse? "So what am I supposed to do? Hide? Run?"Kael snorted, pulling a cigarette from his cloak and lighting it with a snap of his fingers, a tiny spark dancing at the tip. "Running's not your style, is it? I saw you back there, throwing yourself at a Voidbeast like some comic-book idiot. You've got guts, I'll give you that."Bace puffed out his chest, despite himself. "Darn right I do.""Don't get cocky." Kael exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes narrowing. "You've got two choices, kid. Stay here, keep being Sparkless Bace, and wait for the Council to haul you off for 'study.' Or come with me, learn to control that Prism Spark, and maybe—maybe—keep Aetherion from falling apart."Bace's mind spun. Leave Lumin City? His home, such as it was? The slums weren't much—cramped shacks, flickering lights, the constant stench of burnt Aether from illegal Spark fights—but it was all he knew. He thought of his tiny room, filled with dog-eared comics he'd scavenged, each one a story of heroes who rose above their flaws. He'd always wanted to be like them. But this? This was real, and it terrified him."Why me?" Bace asked, voice quieter now. "Why do you care?"Kael's jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked older, wearier. "Let's just say I owe someone. Someone who had a Spark like yours. Didn't end well." He flicked the cigarette away, sparks scattering. "I'm not letting it happen again."Bace stared at the ground, the weight of the choice pressing on him. He thought of the kid he'd saved, her wide eyes full of gratitude. He thought of Zane's sneer, the crowd's laughter, the way his hands had glowed with impossible colors. He wasn't Sparkless anymore. He was something else—something bigger. And maybe, just maybe, that was worth the risk."Alright," Bace said, meeting Kael's gaze. "I'm in. Teach me."Kael's smirk returned, sharper this time. "Don't say I didn't warn you, kid." He turned, cloak swirling, and gestured down the alley. "Come on. We've got a long way to go before you're anything close to a hero."Bace took a deep breath, glancing back at the neon skyline of Lumin City. Somewhere out there, his old life was fading—Sparkless Bace, the slum kid with nothing but dreams and a pencil. He reached into his pocket, fingers brushing the worn edge of a comic book he'd tucked there that morning. The One and Only, it was called, a story about a hero who changed the world.He grinned. Maybe it was time to write his own story