The orphanage was in chaos that morning. Chairs and tables were dragged outside, old mattresses piled up in the yard. Children gathered at the front gate—some crying, some sitting blankly on the ground.
"Starting today, this orphanage is officially closed!" one of the staff shouted.
No further explanation was given. The children without Aether were simply thrown out. No one came to pick them up. No one cared.
Valz was the last to leave. A small bag with a few pieces of clothing hung from his shoulder. He walked through the gate without looking back.
For the other kids, this was a disaster.
For Valz, it was just another day.
He walked through the city streets. Tall buildings loomed above him, filled with billboards and flashing lights, contrasting with his calm footsteps. People bustled around, too busy to notice the orphan boy who had just been abandoned.
His stomach was empty, but his face remained unchanged.
"If I keep going like this, I won't last long. I need a way to survive."
His steps halted in front of a large bulletin board in the city square.
"Riverside High School – Aether Scholarship. Open Applications!"
He read the details. Two stages: a written test, and a basic Aether practice exam.
Around him, people buzzed with excitement.
"If you pass, you can enter an elite school!"
"The scholarship covers everything—even living expenses!"
Valz stared at the poster for a while. His expression didn't change.
"Written test. Basic practice. …Worth a try."
That night, he found an abandoned building at the edge of the city. The roof leaked, but it was enough for shelter. He dropped his bag on the floor and lay down.
His gaze drifted to the cracked ceiling. Words from the orphanage still echoed in his head.
"Buffer? Throw him out. Nobody wants him."
He let out a quiet breath. Another memory surfaced.
Years ago, one of the corrupt orphanage staff had taken him and a few other kids out, supposedly to help carry groceries. But that day, the man had led them somewhere else as well—into a hidden underground hall filled with noise and cheering.
An illegal arena.
A place where people fought with Aether for money.
Valz remembered the sweat, the blood, the roar of the crowd.
Now, thinking about his empty future, that memory resurfaced.
"Before the Riverside exams begin… maybe that's the fastest way to earn money and survive."
He closed his eyes. No smile, no fear. Just silence.
Tomorrow, he would start moving.