The timid boy stood there, barely visible in the chaos of the training area, his eyes wide with fear as his classmates clashed with one another. Something about him caught my attention, something deeper than just a quiet presence. My father had always said that when you see potential in a hero, it's almost instinctual—you just have to reach out and grab them. And in that moment, I couldn't ignore the pull to approach him.
But first, I had to watch the fight unfold. The academy's students were split into two groups, each showcasing their strengths. I stood back, observing, until the mentor of the school came forward to greet me.
"Welcome to the training area. Have you found any potential here?" he asked, a proud smile on his face as he welcomed me.
Without thinking, I responded. "I want all of them to fight until there is one last standing."
The mentor immediately signaled for the students to prepare, but as they did, my attention was once again drawn to the timid boy, standing in the corner, his eyes glued to the ground. I tried to approach him, but just as I was about to reach him, the mentor intervened.
"Perhaps you've taken interest in our Top 2 students? Would you like me to introduce you to them?" the mentor asked.
Reluctantly, I agreed. He led me to the two students: a boy with Heliokinesis and a girl who could control ice, much like Yuki. They were impressive, without a doubt, but they didn't intrigue me the way the timid boy did.
As the mentor proudly spoke about his top students, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something, that my attention belonged elsewhere. I excused myself and headed straight for the boy in the corner.
I finally got his attention. He looked up, his expression nervous, like he wasn't sure how to respond to me. I asked him his name, but he didn't answer. Instead, he kept looking around, as though afraid to speak.
His teacher had told me he was "useless," and I could see the fear in the boy's eyes as he glanced at his mentor. I wanted to speak to him, to help him, but the mentor stepped in once again. After a brief conversation, the mentor reluctantly agreed to let me talk to the boy outside.
We stepped outside, and I asked, "Boy, can I ask for your name?" Again, he didn't respond.
I took a step forward, and to my surprise, I swung my sword at him—not with the intention to harm, but to test his reaction. In a flash, he dodged, leaping up onto the roof, hanging there like a shadow.
"Stay away!" he shouted in fear, his voice trembling.
I didn't hesitate. I rushed to him, grabbing his hands, and with a calm voice, I said, "You can't control your power, can you? It's okay. I can't control mine either."
The boy's hands, which were now covered by a strange black substance, trembled. Slowly, his powers calmed. I could see the relief on his face as he stopped panicking. His walls began to lower, and he started to speak, telling me that his mentor knew about his power and warned him not to speak to anyone, fearing the chaos it could cause.
I felt a connection to him. He was like me—isolated, misunderstood, and afraid of his own abilities. I promised him that I would help him learn to control his powers, but before I could say more, the battle resumed inside.
Back in the arena, the battle between the boy and the girl continued. The students were powerful, but one stood out to me—the timid boy. Despite his fear, I could feel that he held something much stronger within him. As I watched, I knew he was more than just another student.
The battle was intense. The girl, skilled with ice, was swift and strategic. She managed to outsmart the boy, knocking him down. But as she approached to finish him off, I saw it—he was scared, terrified even, and his powers surged uncontrollably.
I watched the boy closely. His eyes began to glow with an ominous light, and the shadows around him seemed to twist and curl. The others didn't understand what was happening, but I did.
It was Umbrakinesis—Dark Power.
The girl, seeing his change in demeanor, backed away in fear, but not fast enough. The boy unleashed his full power, and the battlefield turned into a chaotic storm of shadows and dark energy. The mentor rushed in to stop him, but I stopped him before he could intervene.
"No," I said firmly. "You're fired."
The mentor stood frozen, shocked by my words, but he couldn't react fast enough as the boy's power continued to surge. The tour guide, who had been showing me around, looked confused, but I could see the fear in his eyes as he witnessed the boy's abilities.
The boy's power was dark and overwhelming, and the girl was already injured. I couldn't let him destroy everything, so I stepped in.
I moved swiftly, blocking the boy's strikes and finally reaching him. The dark energy lashed at me, and I felt a sharp sting as I was scratched, but I didn't stop. I reached his head, using my own power to paralyze him, stopping him in an instant.
He collapsed in my arms, and to my surprise, he started crying. He wrapped his arms around me, desperate for comfort. The boy, who had been so distant, so afraid, now clung to me like a lifeline.
In that moment, I realized that he was just like me—lost, confused, and overwhelmed by his powers. I hugged him tightly, whispering to him, trying to reassure him.
After he calmed down, I turned my attention to the girl, treating her injuries with the care she deserved. Despite the chaos, she had fought bravely, and I knew she deserved better than to be left behind.
Once the battle was over, I made the decision to transfer both the top students and the timid boy to a more advanced class. I invited them to join my father's school, hoping they could learn more about their powers in a safer environment, one where they could grow without fear of being judged.
When the tour of the school was finished, I returned to my father's home, feeling both a sense of accomplishment and an unshakable weight in my heart. I had seen something in that boy—something that reminded me of myself—and I knew that, despite everything, I couldn't turn my back on him.
As I prepared for the next phase of my journey, I couldn't help but wonder what would come next for all of us. The timid boy, the girl, and the others—they had their own paths to follow, and I had mine. But for now, I knew I had made a difference, however small it may have been.