Shin stood at the edge of the training ground, his fists clenched at his sides. His uniform, already worn from countless falls, clung to his lean frame as the cold morning air brushed against his skin. A group of students circled him, their mocking laughter cutting through the tension like knives.
"Stand up, Shin," Wind sneered, cracking his knuckles as the aura of Vitria's blessing flickered faintly around his arms. "Or are you going to keep embarrassing yourself?"
Shin forced himself to his feet, his legs trembling beneath him. His chest ached from the previous blow, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the sting of humiliation. He knew how this would end — he always did.
"Enough!" Han's voice rang out as he stepped forward, his sharp gaze cutting through the crowd. The flame-like aura of Asura's blessing pulsed faintly around him. His dark eyes narrowed at Shin with pure disgust. "Stop wasting everyone's time."
Shin's eyes met Han's, searching for even a shred of the warmth that once existed between them — but there was none. Only cold hatred.
"Maybe if you weren't so useless, your family wouldn't have—"
Shin's head snapped upward, and before Wind could finish, Christ stepped between them. "That's enough," Christ said, his tone calm but strained.
Wind scoffed. "Why are you defending him?"
"I'm not." Christ's gaze shifted briefly toward Shin, his expression unreadable. He turned away. "It's not worth it."
Shin's hands curled into fists. Even Christ… Even the last person who still acknowledged him wouldn't speak for him.
"Don't blame Wind for this, Shin," a soft, cold voice said.
Shin's breath hitched as Chae stepped forward, her long dark hair flowing behind her. Her ocean-blue eyes shimmered with the faint glow of Hestia's blessing.
"Chae…" Shin's voice was barely a whisper.
Her gaze sharpened. "I can't believe you'd sink this low."
"I… I didn't do anything…"
Chae's expression hardened. "Stop pretending." Her voice, once soft and warm, was now laced with venom. "You threatened me, Shin. Told me you'd ruin my life if I didn't…"
Shin's eyes widened. "I… never…"
"Enough!" Han's voice exploded across the training ground. His aura flared, and Shin felt the heat push against his skin. "We all know what you did. Just admit it already!"
Shin's heart pounded painfully in his chest. No matter what he said, no one would believe him.
"Pathetic," Wind spat.
Shin's knees hit the ground as the crowd's laughter swelled.
"He's so pathetic," a student whispered.
"I can't believe someone like him even got into this school."
"Useless. No skills. No god. He's a disgrace."
Shin squeezed his eyes shut, his breath shaking. The pressure in his chest grew heavier, suffocating.
"Just stay down," Han said coldly. "That's where you belong."
Shin's mother's face flashed through his mind — her gentle smile, the warmth in her eyes. "You don't have to fight. Just survive."
Shin opened his eyes. His trembling hands pressed against the cold ground beneath him. His chest tightened. His vision blurred.
But deep inside him, something stirred. A shadow beneath the surface — quiet, waiting.
Not yet. Not now.
But soon.