The gods died seven years ago.
No trumpet sounded in the skies. No black sun blotted the earth. One morning, the priests found their temples cold, their prayers empty, and the sacred flames extinguished without smoke. The world shuddered quietly as if holding its breath, and the cracks began to show.
Monsters, things from the ragged edges of nightmares, crawled from forgotten places. The seas birthed leviathans, forests grew dark and whispered with teeth, and the sky wept ash on days when it should have rained. Cities fell. Kingdoms burned. And amid the ruin, some humans began to awaken.
They said that the gods sent one last gift to us humans cause they knew it wouldn't be long till whatever attacked them came for us humans. Ability can be passed down and taught to each other.
But strangely, I couldn't learn a single ability; I spent every coin I had on a tutor. A real one certified, gifted, expensive. Didn't matter. Nothing stuck. No spark, no power.
Today was no different. I dragged myself back to class, where everyone fawned over the Awakened like they were saints. I asked a question. The teacher didn't even look at me.
I wasn't Awakened. I was invisible.
The bell rang. Class ended, and the Awakened flowed into the hallway in clusters, loud and full of purpose. Victor moved slower, keeping his head down, trying to disappear.
But Samuel didn't let things disappear.
Tall, smirking, and glowing faintly with the burn of some half-learned flame ability, Samuel spotted him instantly. Like a hawk to a mouse.
"Hey, look who's still powerless," Samuel said, loud enough for the others to hear. "Thought you'd finally spark this week. Guess even the gods knew you were a waste."
The others laughed, not all of them cruel, but none willing to speak up.
Victor kept walking.
Samuel stepped in front of him.
"What, too good to talk now? You think you're better than us just 'cause you're the only one without a gift?"
Then came the shove. Not hard, but charged just enough of a flicker of power behind it to send him staggering.
He hit the lockers. The steel thudded louder than it should have.
No one stopped it. No teacher saw. And even if they did, it wouldn't have mattered.
He wasn't Awakened.
He wasn't anyone.
---
He pushed himself off the lockers, dusting his sleeves, ignoring the laughter behind him.
Samuel was already moving in again, hand glowing faintly with that unstable flame of his.
Victor didn't bother to run. He just tucked in, bracing for impact. But nothing came.
A second passed. Then another.
He opened his eyes.
Standing in front of him was a muscular dark haired boy.
Samuel instinctively stopped his attack knowing that it was a bad idea. when the boy turned he discovered it was ciel one of the few who awakened s rank abilities.
Then Samuel angrily said "Whatever, not worth it"
In this world, even awakened are separated by rank, and those at s-rank are at the top of society in everything. While people like victor are at the bottom.
That is why It is surprising for Ciel one of the strongest in school to stand up for victor.
Victor asked why did you help me in a shaky voice, fearing an attack from the s-rank; Ciel paused for a second, then answered because people like Samuel forget that real strength doesn't need an audience.
And before victor could thank him he was gone, lost in the crowd that gathered due to the confrontation.
Victor stood still for a few moments gathering his thoughts cause for the first time someone stood up for him even if it was only because of his beliefs,
Victor gathered his book and went home in silence upon getting home he went straight to the room where he last saw his parents before they disappeared, and etched on the wall was a sentence "You are stronger than you think the power would come when you need it" it's been five years now and he still hasn't gotten any ability and he can't learn anyone either.
Victor left the room and went to his own room, tired from today's event,he went to bed.