A young man sat listlessly and stared absentmindedly at his wall. The sound of a spark caught his attention. Shifting his gaze, it fell on a single flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling.
Theodore, a boy who still had the innocent features of a seventeen-year-old boy with short, snow white hair, leaned his back against the creaky backboard of his bed. With golden eyes glinting in the sunlight, he was lost in thought as he sat cross-legged on his bed. Shifting his gaze back, he stared out the window by his side.
Below, a dull, barely maintained driveway stretched into the equally poorly maintained street. The pavement had dulled to a weary Gray, the slabs of concrete assembled side by side had cracked in uneven strips.
At its border, a fence of weathered wood stood in all its splendour. Either side of that driveway was a small overgrown lawn, if it could even be called that.
And bordering that lawn on both sides were two equally decrepit buildings no different from the one he was currently living in. Stood in the centre of equally overgrown lawns, they contrasted with the image of the transport vehicle, otherwise known as a TV, parked in its driveway.
'If I didn't know the reason it was here, I would have said someone stole it.'
But he did know the reason. Knowing that didn't mean he liked it, though.
'Lucky brat,' he grumbled.
As he sat listlessly, the sounds of muffled voices reached him from below. Gazing at the driveway once more, he saw a couple exiting the building with a boy who looked no older than ten. Happily following and linking hands with them, the boy's smile radiated the boundless hope and joy he felt as they led him into a sleek car parked just a few steps from the gate of their fence.
Staring at the scene, Theo felt a slight tinge in his heart.
'I wonder what he feels like right now. Is he excited? Relieved? Maybe even Ecstatic?' Theo paused for a moment after that thought, then a rhy smile appeared on his face, and he chuckled and shifted his gaze. 'I mean, who wouldn't be? Well, it doesn't matter to me anyway. I'm going to be stuck here for life.'
The outskirts! The dirtiest, poorest, most disdained, dangerous, and neglected part of the city. It was also the only place in the entire city where people like him were allowed to live.
From his window, the gateway between him and the outside world, the truth of that reputation was clear for anyone willing to see. Cramped buildings creaked and groaned as they leaned into one another. Their roofs patched with mismatched sheets of scrap metal, planks of wood, some were even patched with pieces of cloth. The narrow street was choked with trash and stagnant water. The gutters were clogged and long forgotten.
'It all makes for a sad sight, really.'
Watching the boy get into the car and drive off, Theodore sighed.
"Guess that's that," he mumbled as he got off the bed.
Reaching a table by his side, he picked up and put on a tie, socks, shoes, and a heavily worn-out blazer. Walking out of his run-down room, down the empty hallway, and making his way down the stairs, his heart ached, but there was no helping it.
Reaching the foot of the stairs, he looked around the small living room. At its center was a table covered in chips and racks. The chairs surrounding it weren't in much better shape. Shifting his gaze towards the head of the table, a smile crept onto his face. There, a blonde-haired woman sat with her lips curled into a smile as she stared at a picture frame in her hands.
For a few moments, he just stared at her. The sight of her joyful expression filled him with a strange sense of joy. Shaking off his stupor, he walked over. The sound of his footsteps pulled her attention away from the frame in her hands. When her gaze fell on him, her smile grew even wider. Seeing that, Theo chuckled.
"What's got you so chipper this morning, Maria?"
"Didn't you see Theo?"
Theo's brow curled up for a moment.
"See what?"
"Andy has finally found a home! A proper home. I'm so happy for him, aren't you?"
Theo's smile faded, and a sombre expression took its place.
"Yeah, I'm oh so happy the last 'child' has 'finally' found a home."
Maria stared at him in silence for a long while. Her expression souring.
"You know that's not what I meant, Theo."
Theodore scoffed and walked over to a chair with a backpack resting on it.
"Yeah, sure," he said, picking the backpack from the seat.
Maria's jaw tightened at his tone, but she held her ground.
"Theo… you could at least try,"
He slung the backpack over one shoulder, turned to her, and asked. "Try what, Maria? Pretend this place isn't a rotting hellhole?"
"That's not what I'm saying."
"Then what are you saying?" he shot back, not bothering to hide the edge in his voice.
Maria opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her fingers tightened around the picture frame.
"Andy deserved this. A chance. A family. A better life. You of all people know that."
He didn't answer. He didn't need to. The silence between them said enough.
After a moment, he stepped closer, his voice quieter.
"And you deserve one too... We deserve one... You of all people know that."
Theo paused mid-turn, shoulders stiffening. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
He let out a slow breath.
"But we both know that isn't happening."
"Come on, Theo, don't act so sold!"
Theo waved his hand at Maria dismissively.
"Sure whatever you say."
"Theo!" she yelled as he walked through the door.
Theo let the door swing shut behind him. The moment it clicked, he exhaled sharply and rubbed his face with both hands.
'That woman... Why's she so... so... infuriating!' he muttered under his breath.
He started down the uneven concrete driveway, his worn-out synth-leather shoes thudding against the cracked slabs. By the time he reached the leaning gate, he pushed it open, the hinges screeching in protest.
He thought back to the days he would play in the driveway with Maria as a child. The memories weren't as vivid as they used to be, but they were better than nothing. But right now, he was happy to think of anything to drown out the echo of Maria's voice.
'Why can't things just go back to those simple days.'
***
Staring out of a window and sitting at a desk, an hour later, classes began, ended, and began again, going by without Theo showing an ounce of interest.
'Why bother anyway? Not like this repetitive cycle of math, physics, and all that jazz makes sense anyway. We're all dead in a few hours anyway.'
Sighing and continuing to stare nonchalantly out the window, Theodore was once again lost in thought. Time flew by, and before he knew it, the day was nearly over. But before it did end, the speakers in the halls crackled as they were turned on.
{Attention, all third-year students! Please prepare to move to your designated gymnasium.}
Brought back from his stupor by the announcement, Theo sighed.
"Guess it's time."
***
Some time later, Theodore and his classmates all changed into their simple, but worn-out gym uniforms and stood in an orderly fashion in the gym awaiting further instruction. Thumping his foot impatiently against the ground, he looked at the watch hanging on the wall constantly.
'When is this thing going to start?'
Soon, a group of people walked through the entrance and made their way to the front, and once there, a man dressed in a simple tracksuit stepped forward. The students around Theo all looked and listened closely, making sure not to miss a single word.
"Good day, students! My name is Nicolas, Nicolas Brown! And I am a rank two Herald!"
The students in the gymnasium erupted.
"Whoa! That means he is a master, right?" One murmured.
"Yeah! And it also means he has gone through the second trial!"
Stomping his foot against the ground, he sent a small shockwave that shook the students.
"I'm not done!"
The students immediately quieted.
"Good, now as you know, some of you are on the verge of something great. And that is the path to becoming an awakened!"
Raising his hand, he pointed to what was in his palm.
"To aid you in that, I hold in my hand a device that will be handed to each of you in a few moments, which you are required to wear until midnight."
Before he could continue, a number of students present raised their hands. he glanced over the crowd of students with a piercing glare, and they immediately dropped them.
He continued, and as he did, a number of people holding boxes went round handing out the watch-like device.
"This device is designed to scan and display your ether index. Namely, the state of your Ether core, its rank, and its saturation level. I believe you all know what all that means already, so I will not be elaborating further!"
Receiving his, Theo looked down at his, put it on, and looked back at Nicolas.
"For most of you, the saturation will be between ten and twenty percent, which means your chances of ever awakening a trait, especially a powerful one, are low. In fact, apart from the typical boost, you will likely never amount to anything!"
'Real motivational, Mr rank two!' Theo thought.
"To be honest, for most of you, I hope that is the case."
'Well, that's counterproductive. Wouldn't you want us to awaken strong abilities?'
"But, for those with higher ether levels, anywhere from twenty to a hundred, your chances of awakening one are raised drastically. And the higher the percentage, the higher the rank of the trait you will receive. Which also means the trials you will experience would be even more challenging."
As his words hung in the air, a chill crept down the spines of all the students. The allure of power was intoxicating, but the reality that it came with a price was daunting.
"Well, I guess that's enough of that. If you would now please look at the devices, I have a few notes."
Looking down, Theo stared at the watch handed to him and watched a bar load on the screen, and once it was done, a something was displayed in front of him.
[Ether core- Dormant]
[Core rank- None]
[Core Saturation- Error%]
'Error? What does this thing mean by error? Is it busted or something?'
"For those of you too stupid to pay attention in class, an ether core is where the energy called ether gathers within your body."
Theo raised a brow.
'I thought you weren't going to explain, though.'
"Think of it like a battery, and ether is the power used to recharge it. For now, it is dormant, but by midnight when the winter solstice begins, those of you who stood here will be forced to the otherworld where you will face your trial. And once you pass, you will be able to awaken. But till then, your bodies will continue to gather ether, and the device will continue to monitor you, so for those worried about their fates, the score you are currently seeing might not be your final reading."
'So I'm not getting a trait then? Well, whatever, not like I wanted to awaken anyway.'
From behind the man, a woman stepped forward, unlike the man in the tracksuit, she was dressed in an official blue and white uniform. Her long black hair fell to her waist, and her brown eyes quickly glanced over the students. As soon as she stepped forward, the atmosphere in the gymnasium changed.
The students who had previously been nearly apathetic to their instructor's words became openly hostile. With eyes filled with contempt and unwelcoming demeanours, they made their displeasure at her presence known.
But unlike his peers, Theodore showed no reaction and just listened.
"My name is Emma, a rank two Herald of the metahuman corps, and to you, possible herald candidates, I give my heartfelt apologies. Unlike the other institutions that have been preparing for this day for months, you have been deprived of that same privilege, and no one but we is to blame."
The woman gave a deep bow to the students before continuing.
"Now, ideally, you all would have been required to stay here and would be given pods where you would safely go through your trial, but as we are pressed for time, you will have to make do with your homes. We have already sent correspondents to your respective homes with the requirements for your safety while you undergo the trial, but once again, I apologise for your lack of preparation material.
With that, I have said all I have to and would bid you farewell, I have another four institutions to visit today after all."
The moment the woman finished her speech, she made her way out of the gymnasium accompanied by a few of the schools teachers who were trying their hardest to suck up to her. Watching them go, Theodore scoffed, but before he could say anything more, the previous instructor stepped forward once more.
"Like the nice lady said, you brats, it is unfortunate that you have been dealt the hand of poverty, but all you can do now is use all the training we have provided you in the last month and persevere."
The man's tone shifted from his usual stern one to a softer and more emotional one, and following his shift, the mood in the gym became even more grim as the reality of the situation dawned on the students.
"I honestly hope that you will be the first of many to make it through the trial and awaken from our institution. No, I beg of you, please, it doesn't matter how you do it, just survive."
Among the students, there were those silently dreading what was to come, there were those who had accepted their fate, and there were those who looked utterly apathetic to everything happening around them. Among those, Theodore was the latter. Despite that, there was something that caught his interest, and that was the device on his wrist that kept reading an error. He stared at the device for what felt like hours through the rest of the school day, but nothing changed.
By the end, he had given up hope and sighed.
'Whatever, it's not like me making it through the trial was a realistic scenario anyway.'