📖 Shadowbound: The Necromancer's Disciple
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Chapter 1: The Boy No One Saw
The classroom buzzed with laughter and chatter, but none of it reached Riku Hayashi. He sat in the back, next to the window, pretending to copy notes. His black messy hair fell over his eyes, hiding the emptiness behind them.
A burst of laughter erupted from the front. Someone called his name.
"Hey, Riku! Did you forget your lunch again?"
Snickers followed. He tightened his grip on his pen until his knuckles turned white.
Just ignore them. Don't let it get to you.
The voices blurred together—mockery he had heard a hundred times before.
"Why do you even come to school?"
"Pathetic."
Riku's eyes wandered outside the window. Clouds drifted slowly across the sky, free and untouchable. Unlike him.
Loneliness pressed down on his chest, heavier than any words thrown at him. He wanted to scream, but no sound left his lips. He was invisible. Always had been.
But in the deepest shadows of his heart, a spark flickered—an unspoken vow.
One day… I'll be strong enough to make them see me.