In the city of Creedheart, a showdown was occurring in a dark, smelly alleyway. Four burly and brutish men surrounded a slender, handsome, brown-haired boy of about the age of 16 wearing a school uniform and carrying a bookbag.
As the thugs closed in from all sides, the boy took a fighting stance, knees slightly bent, hands raised, muscles taut with anticipation, a determined look on his face.
The brute from the left covered the distance first, a tall, muscular, hairy man with tattoos covering every inch of his body, and as he closed in on the boy, he sent a powerful right hook hurtling towards the boy's jaw.
The boy ducked the blow and sent an uppercut of his own at the tattooed man, but before it could connect, the bald man had already approached from behind and kicked him hard on his back.
The boy fell hard on his face, his hands doing nothing to soften the impact.
"What the actual hell is your problem?!" the boy finally spoke, his voice dripping with anger. "I already said I don't have any money!"
"Sure, kid, whatever you say," said the tattooed man. "You're dressed like that and you have no money, makes a helluva lot of sense, don't it, fellas?"
"It sure don't, boss!" spoke up another crook, this one with spiky hair. "This little guy is a posh-looking kid if I've ever seen one!"
After removing his communicator from his wrist and giving him bruises all over his body, the crooks had begun a systematic emptying of his belongings, looting them until nothing remained. The boy crawled to a dark corner of the alleyway, rage showing in every contortion of his face.
"Boss, we should get rid of him so he can't talk," said the final member of the crooks, a skinny man with mousey features and stringy black hair.
"You think you can step on me like that, huh?" he murmured, his voice growing with every passing second. "Well... I'M GONNA KILL YOU BASTARDS!!" he screamed the last words with a guttural cry, veins throbbing on his neck.
Immediately following his words, a ball of fire had begun forming above his palm, growing in size and intensity with every passing second.
However, before he could do much with the fireball, a group of five Internal Defense soldiers entered the alleyway, each wearing sharp white uniforms with gold accents and carrying an assortment of weapons ranging from swords to bows.
"Stand down, lawbreakers," said the man leading the group. He was a tall and muscular man with brown hair and a chiseled beard.
Directly following his words, a loud explosion was heard. The fireball in the boy's hand had detonated, exploding point-blank in front of him.
His corpse fell in a smoking, blackened heap on the ground, his body mutilated and face scorched to a mangled mass of burning flesh.
The four thugs staggered back, shock and horror plastered on their faces as a result of the grim scene.
The leading officer frowned and spoke in a gruff voice.
"Stupid boy. Tried to enhance a spell he just learned. That's what happens to idiots when they learn their affinity and think they're the next Orin."
"Yeah, I saw a few cases of these when I was working as a guard over at the Commons. A few kids came over after learning their affinity and started showing off. Next thing you know, three are dead and six were hospitalized," said another soldier, this one of average height and muscular with rusty brown hair.
"Alright, guys, get these four and that body to HQ, I'm gonna go talk to our tipper."
Following his words, an assortment of voices rang out in agreement.
Each arresting one and one somehow making the body disappear, four Internal Defense soldiers left the entrance to the alley, nodding in turn to the figure wearing a black hoodie, sweatpants, and shoes.
He had on headphones and appeared to be reading on his phone.
"Thanks again, son," said the captain of the squad, bowing slightly to the boy. "The less rot we have inside the Empire, the more we can worry about the Underworlders. And I'm sorry you had to witness such a brutal scene."
"It was no problem, officer," I said. "If anything, I'm happy you arrived so quickly."
"Just doin' our job, kid. Just doin' our job. By the way, what did you say your name was again?"
"Azad. Azad Romer," I said.
"Alright, kid, I'll be seeing you around. Take care," the officer said extending his hand for a handshake.
I took his hand and said, "Thank you, take care as well."
He left, walking down the street before jumping high into the sky, his body turning into a blur midair before taking off for the shining lights and sparkling monoliths of downtown Creedheart, where the Internal Defense Headquarters were located.
I simply watched him leave before sighing and shaking my head. I turned my music back on and began to walk down the street with my hands in my pockets.
I thought about what had happened for a second. I had seen a young boy, my age, die.
'That could have been me,' I thought. But did I really care?
I looked up at the hover cars zipping around in the air, the holograms advertising businesses on every corner, and the people walking hurriedly on the sidewalk.
The stars were quite clear in the sky.
'Nah,' I decided. 'Why should I care about some random fool who got himself killed? I'mma just do my own thing.'
Continuing to stroll, I observed my surroundings. Just about everything was advanced; some of the more wealthy districts floated above, connected by aerial bridges. Almost every building had its own lush rooftop garden, and everything was solar and wind-powered.
As I passed a fashion boutique, I took a second to look at myself in the reflection of the showcase window.
'Not a bad looking guy, eh?' I said with a slight smirk.
I stood at exactly 6'0" with an olive skin complexion and messy black hair that was supposed to be styled in a layered undercut.
I wore a black hoodie with matching black sweatpants and sneakers to match. To complete the all-black set, I was wearing black headphones as well. I continued on the way to my house.
'Huh. If I actually tried, I could be like that lady-killer in those books. Ya know, the kind where they walk in the room and all the girls swoon and faint while clutching their hearts.'
'Maybe a wind would blow through the room, just for dramatic effect,' I chuckled, laughing at my own joke.
Before I knew it, I had arrived at my humble abode. Me and, well, not my friends, but let's say acquaintances, all lived at the same place.
And by acquaintances, I meant my fellow orphans, at least those of us whose parents died while fighting the Underworlders and were taken care of by the government.
It was a shabby building, but it was mine. I had lived in it as long as I could remember, and I had grown accustomed to the worn-down feel of the fine establishment.
After unlocking a side door using a key and walking through it, I slipped quietly through the dimly lit halls, not wanting to disturb anyone.
After all, I just couldn't put up with the constant, useless, absolute nonsense that came out of the mouths of the other high schoolers who were known as "mature young men and women."
Finally reaching my room, I opened the door, revealing an interior decorated by only a simple bed, a wardrobe, and a desk connected to a simple bathroom
I tossed my clothes off and took a quick shower. Returning to my room, I flopped on my bed and simply stared at the ceiling.
"Tomorrow is when I find out my affinity. Tomorrow is the day I can finally start my journey," I said aloud, lost in the emotions that came with the words.
And after a long pause, my face broke out into a grin.
"It's showtime, baby."