Chapter Six: Hiding Sparks
School in the slums was nothing like the shining academies of the Upper District.
The halls smelled faintly of rust and mold, the desks were dented and scarred, and half the holo-boards flickered like they were dying. But the students didn't care. Out here, power meant survival, and most of them had awakened by now.
Kirro walked through the gates with his hood up, trying to look invisible.
"Yo, Kirro!"
His friend Taro jogged up, taller than most and already flexing the stone-like texture crawling across his forearm — his awakening gift. Behind him came Sera, whose eyes glowed faintly with her psychic flare. Both of them grinning, both buzzing with the same question.
"You awakened yet?" Taro smirked, elbowing him."Don't tell me you're still waiting," Sera teased. "Almost everyone in our year's got something by now."
Kirro forced a laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "Nah, nothing yet. Guess I'm a late bloomer."
He shoved his hands in his pockets before they could notice the faint tingling under his skin.
Gym Class
By midday, gym was alive with nervous energy. Today wasn't normal training — it was Awakening Potential Day, when the school measured every student's strength, stamina, and projected growth. For those already awakened, it was their first chance to see how far they might go.
The coach barked orders, setting up the machines: weighted scanners, combat dummies, and the pulsing metal sphere that could read a person's power capacity. Kids were buzzing, showing off, laughing nervously.
"Alright, line up!" the coach roared.
Kirro's stomach twisted. If he stepped up there and let the sparks fly… everyone would know. Word would spread. The Agency might even hear.
And worse — if his emotions slipped, if the red came out — he could hurt someone.
Not yet, he thought. Not until I know what I can do.
When it was his turn, Kirro mumbled something about needing water and slipped out the side door. His heart raced as he moved through the old maintenance hallway.
He found the circuit box near the back wall, wires tangled like veins. A single touch, a single whisper of his sparks, and the systems groaned, lights flickering, scanners failing.
"What the—?!" The coach's voice echoed from inside the gym. Machines powered down one by one until the test was useless.
The students groaned in protest."Aw, come on!""Does this mean we have to do it again?""Tomorrow," the coach growled. "Everyone out!"
Kirro smirked from the shadows. A clean escape.
Alone with Sparks
He slipped away before anyone noticed, climbing out through the back of the gym into the quiet alleys behind the school. His pulse thundered in his ears as he crouched low, hand pressed to the cracked pavement.
Blue sparks flickered from his palm, racing across the ground like veins of light. His chest lifted, a thrill rushing through him.
"Alright," he whispered. "Time to see what you can really do."
The sparks grew brighter, sharper, crawling up his arm and wrapping around his fist like living lightning. His smile widened.
Tomorrow, they'd all still be blind. But tonight, Kirro would push his power further than ever — and no one would know.