Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Oh, it's time," Max yawned, reaching for his phone. 6:35 AM. He stretched, then shuffled off to get ready for school.
After a quick shower and change, he stepped into the kitchen. A note was stuck to the fridge, his mom's usual message. We'll be late tonight. Love, Mom & Dad. He barely reacted. It was routine by now.
Max made himself breakfast: fried eggs, bacon, French toast, and hot chocolate. By 7:10, he was out the door, backpack slung over one shoulder. He wasn't in a rush the school was only a ten-minute walk.
He arrived at 8:24. A few students were already in class, chatting.
"Morning, guys," Max said, sliding into his seat. He pulled out a book he hadn't finished the night before.
It was a gift from his dad on his tenth birthday supposedly a family story. Max hadn't believed it, thinking it was a fantasy novel. But as he read, it felt disturbingly real. The main character had powers eerily similar to his own: enhanced sight, hearing, strength, speed.
Now sixteen, Max could lift three times his weight without breaking a sweat. But he kept it hidden. Thick glasses and a forged doctor's note let him skip gym class under the excuse of a "heart condition." In truth, he trained in secret, trying to master what the book called "shadow energy."
He was so focused on the book that he didn't notice the figure beside him until she spoke.
"Hey, Max. Spaced out again?"
He looked up. "Lena! Uh… yeah, I guess I did. How long were you standing there?"
"Just got here," she said, smiling. "But you looked deep in thought. Everything okay?"
"I'm fine. Really."
She frowned. "You look pale. Are you eating properly?"
Max chuckled. "Yes, Mom."
The classroom door opened. Mr. Green walked in, calling for everyone's attention. Lena returned to her seat but shot Max one last curious glance.
Max turned the final page of the book and froze. A symbol was etched into the paper. A dragon's head inside a ring of five circles forming a star, all enclosed in a larger circle. Something about it made his chest tighten. He sensed Mr. Green was about to call roll, so he shut the book and tried to refocus.
By lunch, the strange symbol still haunted his thoughts.
He and Lena headed toward the cafeteria. But halfway there, a student lunged at Max from the crowd.
"Get behind me!" he shouted instinctively.
The punch came fast—but Max caught it mid-air. Another followed. He blocked it with ease, then grabbed both of the boy's fists. The attacker struggled, then leaned in for a headbutt.
"Max!" Lena shouted.
The blow landed squarely—but Max didn't even flinch. The other boy collapsed, unconscious.
Max turned. "Are you hurt?"
"I no," Lena stammered. "But... How are you so strong?"
"I'll explain later."
Lena blinked, clearly rattled. "Who was that guy? Is he okay?"
"He'll be fine. My head's harder than it looks." Max hoisted the attacker easily. "We should take him to the nurse."
As they walked, Max's thoughts churned. He had sensed some dark energy right before the attack. And when the boy passed out, it vanished. He glanced toward a tree just outside a hallway window. A faint blur, a shadow, was slipping away.
A sorcerer.
Max's pulse quickened. Sorcerers were real. Evil men and women who manipulated shadow energy for twisted purposes. His father had fought one off once, wielding the legendary Shadow Sword. Max had always suspected they were watching him—but attacking him at school? That was new.
They reached the nurse's office. Lena ran ahead to get help while Max laid the student down gently. He didn't know the boy, but he looked familiar someone from the grade above, maybe.
The nurse fussed over him, then nodded. "He'll be alright. Looks like a fainting spell. Good thing you two were there."
Max and Lena slipped out into the hallway.
"I told the nurse he just fainted," Lena said quietly. "Didn't mention the fight. But seriously—what's going on, Max?"
Max hesitated. "I wish I could tell you everything."
"Then start." She crossed her arms. "Because what I just saw wasn't normal."
He looked away. "It's not safe for you to know."
Lena stepped in front of him. "Max, I've known you since we were five. If something's coming after you, I want to help."
Max looked into her eyes and saw only worry and loyalty.
"I didn't mean for you to get involved," he said softly. "But... I think someone's trying to draw me out. Using others to get to me."
Lena's expression darkened. "You mean like possession?"
"Something like that. The energy I sensed it vanished the moment he passed out. That means someone was controlling him. And I saw a shadow outside. A sorcerer. He was watching."
Lena exhaled slowly. "So this is bigger than just you."
Max nodded. "Much bigger."
They finally reached the cafeteria, though neither had much appetite anymore.
As they sat down with trays of barely touched food, Max's eyes wandered to the book still in his bag. That symbol on the last page—it wasn't just decoration. It was a message. A warning. Or maybe an invitation.
Whatever it meant, one thing was clear: the game had changed. And whoever was behind it wasn't hiding anymore.
Lena nudged him. "We'll figure this out. Together."
Max gave her a small, grateful smile. But deep down, a storm was brewing. If the sorcerers were making moves in broad daylight… then the worst was yet to come.