Amari rubbed the sleep from his eyes, the soft morning light spilling through the small window of his tiny home. At thirteen, he lived alone, relying only on himself, but that didn't stop him from dreaming.
Today was special—his first day of school. And one day, he vowed, he would become a hero, strong enough to protect people from monsters and villains alike.
He hurried through his morning routine: a quick shower, a plain breakfast of stale bread and water, and brushing his teeth with the worn brush he'd kept since childhood. Each motion felt ordinary, yet the excitement bubbling in his chest made it feel like the start of something extraordinary.
At school, a teacher handed him his schedule. His first class—English. Amari sat down, clutching the paper, his mind filled with the possibilities of what lay ahead.
But then—
BOOM!
The world exploded around him. The ground shook violently, glass shattered, and students screamed. Dust clouded the classroom as a hulking figure crashed through the school wall.
A monster.
Its enormous claws shredded desks like paper, its jaws dripping with saliva. Amari froze, terror flooding his veins. He tried to run, but the monster's claw seized him, lifting him off the ground like a doll. Its gaping maw loomed closer, hot breath washing over him.
This is it… I'm going to die.
Then—something happened. His hands… they glowed. A strange green light erupted from his palms, surging with raw energy.
"W-What is this!?"
Without thinking, Amari thrust his hands forward. A blast of green energy shot out, slamming into the monster's chest. The creature roared, stumbling backward and crashing through the ruined wall.
Amari collapsed, panting, staring at his trembling hands. Faint sparks of green still flickered along his skin. What… what did I just do?
⸻
He ran. Faster than he ever had in his life. His legs burned, his chest ached, but he didn't stop until he collided with someone tall and solid.
A man stood before him, clad in gleaming armor, a crimson cape flowing behind him—the unmistakable aura of a true hero.
Amari gasped. "M-Monster! A monster attacked the school—everyone's in danger!"
The hero's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the destruction, sword drawn.
Amari could only watch, still shaken. For the first time in his life, he had tasted power—but he didn't understand it.
⸻
The next morning, Amari staggered into his bathroom, splashing water on his face. When he looked up at the cracked mirror, he froze.
His eyes had changed.
They were no longer plain brown. Now, green and black swirled inside his irises, pulsing faintly with light.
Amari's heart pounded. "What's happening to me?"