Waves crashed against the sunlit shore as a massive ship docked in the harbor, casting a looming shadow across the coast. The scene was peaceful—until the sound of tiny footsteps disrupted the calm.
A boy no older than six sprinted toward his older brother, panting and coughing. "Kael! Kael, they're back!"
Sitting beneath a makeshift tent of branches and leaves, Kael—only two years older—glanced up with a scoff. His short, spiky blonde hair stuck out beneath the tent's shade, and his light orange eyes flickered with annoyance."So? Why do they excite you so much? It's not like they benefit you. They're just scum who steal and claim land. They're the reason we're stuck like this."
The younger boy's spiky black hair bounced as he nodded with excitement, the same light orange eyes wide with wonder—a mirrored version of his brother in everything but hair color.
The boy's eyes sparkled with a strange admiration. "Because they're strong! If we became that strong, couldn't we live however we want?"
Kael blinked in surprise, then looked away. "Yeah… probably."
But inside, he thought bitterly: If only he knew the truth…
Later that day…
Kael trudged along the beach, scanning the sands for anything of value. His thoughts burned like the sun overhead.
I hate this. Working for someone else… it pisses me off. If it weren't for Dae-Dae, I'd starve out here.
Ever since the pirates claimed this region, they'd taken control of everything—fishing, hunting, trade. You had to go through them for even a bite of food. Kael's job was to dig through sand and debris for anything worth coin. One silver Noux's worth would buy him and his brother food for a day. Then it was back to the grind.
He kicked the sand in frustration. "Damn it!"
I haven't found anything today. Payment hour is almost here... If I don't make the quota again…
His stomach tightened with dread. We've gone without food before, but this'll be the third night in a row. Dae-Dae's already getting sick... I have to try. Even if it costs me my life.
A line stretched from the dock to the pirate ship's bridge. Kael stood among the crowd—citizens with sunken cheeks and lifeless eyes. Hunger painted every face.
"Hey! Keep moving, buddy, or do you want me to move you myself?" barked a broad-shouldered man two spots behind him.
Kael didn't turn. The man behind him, cloaked in dark gray, simply took a step forward without saying a word.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," the broad man grumbled.
Kael's heart raced as he neared the pirate at the front of the line. Okay… I'll drop the Noux into his hand, then grab the fish beside him and run. With this hoodie on, they won't recognize me. Yeah… it'll work. It has to work.
"Next!" the pirate barked.
Kael stepped forward, his hand trembling as he extended his meager findings.
The pirate squinted at the small handful. "Hmm. This is barely worth ten bronze Noux. Let me see…"
The moment the pirate turned to his left, Kael lunged right—straight for the crate of fish behind him.
But he wasn't fast enough.
A massive hand caught him by the throat, hoisting him off the ground. Kael's legs kicked helplessly as the pirate sneered.
"You know what happens when you steal from us, boy?"
Choking, Kael clawed at the pirate's grip. "I… need it… please… it's for my brother…"
"Everyone needs food. You're not special. But you'll make a fine example."
Just as Kael's vision dimmed, the grip on his throat suddenly paused. Air rushed into his lungs.
He gasped for air and opened his eyes. A hand—pale and veined—gripped the pirate's arm tightly. The cloaked man.
From the ship, three more pirates emerged. "What's going on? Why'd the line stop? We don't have troublemakers, do we?" They laughed—until they collapsed, one after the other, with no explanation.
The cloaked man didn't even flinch. "Let the boy go. Or you'll join them."
The pirate's eyes widened. No way that was him… Maybe they passed out from the heat… or the booze…
"You must think you're tough," the pirate spat, trying to sound brave. "Ordering me around on our turf?"
The cloaked man's voice didn't waver. "If you won't drop him… I'll make you."
The grip on his arm tightened. The pirate screamed and dropped Kael, stumbling back.
"My arm!"
"Captain! We have a problem!"
A mountain of a man ducked through the doorway—a figure twice the size of any other pirate. The captain.
"Which one of you dares disturb my peace?" he asked, his voice low and irritated.
The cloaked man met his gaze. "I've decided you're done running this place."
"Bold claim," the captain scoffed. But when he saw his unconscious crew and the one clutching a mangled arm, his expression twisted.
"He's stronger than he looks," muttered the injured pirate.
"Pathetic," the captain growled. "I just need a stronger crew."
With a sudden growl, the captain turned and punched the injured pirate square in the face. Blood burst from the man's nose as he dropped to the deck, unconscious.
"You're next," the captain snarled, locking eyes with the cloaked man.
Then he charged
.But as he did, the cloaked man's hood shifted—revealing two glowing, blood-red eyes that cut through the shade like twin blades.
In that instant, the captain faltered. For a split second, he saw his entire life flash before him.
Then chaos.
The captain shot backwards, crashing through the ship's deck and into the sea, only to be launched back up, crashing through again. He ricocheted in every direction like a ragdoll, obliterating the vessel.
Kael's jaw dropped. What… what's going on? He's moving so fast, I can't even follow him. Is that man doing this?
The ship groaned and began to sink.
"Get off the bridge—it's going under!" shouted a man from the crowd.
Kael turned to the cloaked man. "I didn't need your help… but I guess you're strong. How'd you do that?"
The stranger said nothing. He just turned and walked away.
"Hey! You can't just do all that and walk off!"
"You said it was for your brother, right?" the man asked without turning around. "To protect him?"
"Yeah."
"Then get strong. Strong enough to protect him… from people like me."
"What do you mean, people like you?"
"Go to Oathspire Academy. In six years. Get stronger. Find the truth."
"Oathspi—?"
But he was already gone.
Kael walked home with the extra fish he had managed to grab, the weight of the encounter settling in his chest.
I don't know what that was… but at least I got food for Dae-Dae.
But as he neared their shelter, his stomach dropped.
Vultures. Circling. Perched over the bedding.
"MOVE!" he shouted, scattering the birds as he charged forward.
What he saw made him freeze.
His brother's body—unrecognizable. Torn apart. Lifeless.
Kael dropped to his knees, a storm of emotions crashing into him—grief, rage, fear, disbelief. It all hit at once, hollowing out everything inside him.
"Ah… ahh…"
Kael jolted awake, drenched in sweat.
"I hate thinking about the past… I need to keep moving."
-
A family of five sat around the dinner table, the warm scent of home-cooked food filling the air. Laughter and casual chatter echoed through the small dining room—except for one.
Malik, a kid with a mini afro and curious brown eyes, stared down at his plate, barely touching his food.
His mother glanced over.
"Malik, why aren't you eating? You don't like it?"
He snapped out of his daze and quickly smiled.
"No, I do!" he said, then shoveled a spoonful into his mouth. "It's really good."
His father chuckled.
"You better like it. Your mom spent a lot of time cooking for your birthday weekend."
"I know. It's delicious..." Malik paused, staring off into space. "It's just... doesn't life ever feel kind of boring?"
His older sister raised an eyebrow.
"Boring? Life's always been like this. What are you even talking about?"
His younger brother laughed.
"He's just saying that 'cause he doesn't have any friends."
"Not true!" Malik fired back. "I have Nia and Taye! It's just... nothing exciting ever happens around here. It's the same routine every single day."
His dad nodded slowly.
"You might be right. But as long as you're alive and healthy, that's all you can really ask for. Okay?"
Malik gave a quiet nod.
"Okay, Dad."
The next day, Malik, Nia, and Taye lay sprawled out in the grass, watching clouds drift lazily across the sky.
"That one looks like a Ninja Turtle," Nia said with a little chuckle.
Malik grinned and pointed.
"Yeah? Then that one looks like you, Nia."
He pointed to a very obvious cloud shaped like a giant rat.
Nia sat up and scowled.
"That's clearly a rat, idiot. I'm gonna kill you!" she shouted, chasing him with mock fury.
Taye burst into laughter, joined by Malik's cackling.
"This is great," Taye said through his grin. "I'm glad we got to laugh together... one last time."
The laughter stopped. Malik and Nia both turned to him.
"Last time?" Malik asked, confused.
Nia's smile faded.
"So it's true... My parents mentioned something about you leaving, but I didn't want to believe it."
Taye sat up.
"Yeah. I was recruited to an academy... for Hosts."
"Hosts?" Malik blinked. "What's that?"
"I just found out recently myself. It's a school full of kids with special abilities."
Nia nodded.
"Yeah. I've heard about them too."
Malik leaned in.
"So… do you have powers or something?"
"Kind of," Taye said, raising his hand. A faint mist swirled from his fingertips. "I can make fog, but not much yet. When my parents saw it, they made some calls. A recruiter checked me out and told me I could do more with my life than just stay here in this dump. Not that I agree with that part—but he's right about the rest."
"So you're just gonna leave us?" Malik asked quietly.
"We all have to move on someday," Taye said, sighing. "I'm just the first to go. I leave tomorrow."
"Yeah… he's right," Nia added. "I don't plan on staying here forever either."
Malik stood up suddenly.
"Well, I didn't want to stay with you guys anyway!" he shouted, then took off running toward home.
Nia watched him go.
"Should we go after him?"
Taye shook his head.
"Nah… It won't make him feel any better."
Malik lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Malik lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Today's been so weird... I can't believe he's leaving.
He paused for a while, lost in thought.
But maybe it's for the best. Maybe... this is what I've been waiting for—something to finally change in this boring life of mine.
The next day.
"There he is," Nia said as she spotted Malik approaching.
Taye smirked.
"I'm surprised you showed up. I thought I'd have to hunt you down just to say goodbye."
"Yeah, sorry about yesterday," Malik said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I realized I want more than this too. I want something different. Hey, Nia—"
"Yeah?"
"Your parents mentioned those Host schools, right? Which one's the best?"
Nia thought for a second.
"There were a few they talked about, but the one they emphasized most was Oathspire Academy."
Taye crossed his arms.
"Figures. That's the rival school to the one I'm going to."
Malik nodded with a look of determination.
"Then I've decided. I'm going to get into Oathspire Academy. I'm going to give my life a purpose."
-
The sun shone bright over Hagan's backyard, casting golden light across the rugged training grounds. The wind carried the scent of trees and earth, fresh and familiar. Niko's feet pounded against the dirt path as he ran up the mountain slope, sweat trailing down his temple.
His thoughts raced even faster.
That voice… It came out of nowhere. Just appeared in my mind, speaking nonsense I couldn't ignore. Over and over, her voice echoed—distorted and static-filled. She kept repeating the words: North, Three, and Truth.
At first, it didn't make any sense… but then the voice sharpened, became clear.
"In three months, when the moon is full, head north until you reach Timberrun Village. Only then will you understand your parents' truths."
I didn't believe it at first. I mean, who would? But now... I can't stop thinking about it. The more I sit with it, the more curious I get about what it meant. And honestly, the more suspicious I am of who—or what—it even was.
Still… I can't believe it had me zoned out that long. When I finally came to, the first thing I saw was Mother Selene crying. Everyone else was gathered around, anxious and pale. She said I was unresponsive for four hours. But to me, the whole thing felt like... fifteen minutes.
"Hey, Niko!" Hagan's voice pulled him back to the present. "You need a break? You didn't have to train today, you know."
Niko glanced over and smiled, shaking his head.
"No, I'm fine! I don't want to fall too far behind."
He picked up his pace again, heart still pounding—but not just from the run.
Should I go? he thought. Could be a trap… But I've got time. I'll decide later.