A boy wrapped his trembling hands around a soft paper cup of soda as he hovered in the shadows at the far end of the hall.
His name was Louis—sixteen years old, lean, with messy hair. His heart beat fast as he stared at the party in front of him.
He watched the academy's grand hall, decorated with glowing banners and colorful lights.
He saw the DJ blasting the latest pop hit, making the walls vibrate with energy.
He couldn't help but notice students showing off their magical powers: conjuring bursts of fire, summoning spinning winds, shaping ice into giant dragons, and making the crowd cheer.
The rest danced, chatted, and laughed.
Everyone is having fun, he thought. Why keep staying in the dark like a criminal?
He slipped out of the shadows and walked quietly along the wall, hoping not to get noticed until he fortunately reached a quiet spot with the reflection of lights.
It was near a large picture display of a group of people in capes and suits.
Louis sipped his soda as he stared at the picture, the slightly sour taste making him grimace.
These group of people were the heroes of the 31st century. They were called the Earth Defenders, a team of magically gifted superheroes protecting Earth from the Veltrix—a deadly alien race.
A table was nearby the large portrait, and Louis went over to sit, staring back at the crowd.
"Louis?"
He turned swiftly toward the familiar voice in the crowd and saw a young girl approaching him.
Louis froze, nearly dropping his cup.
"Kathy Collins."
He'd had a crush on her since his first day at the academy.
Her skin was a rich caramel, her hair— wavy brown, her blue eyes were gentle, and she walked majestically.
"Kate?" Louis replied, trying not to sound nervous. "Hey."
She smiled in a way that almost made everything seem brighter for Louis.
"Are you hiding back here, or just scouting for a quieter corner?" she asked.
Louis glanced at the crowd, then back at Kate. "I guess… the crowd's a little much for me."
"I get it." She sat next to him at the table, sipping her drink.
Louis couldn't help but wonder why she wanted to sit with a loser like him. She was everything he wasn't: confident, talented, and powerful.
Was she finding a way to mock him?
"Umm.. you belong here, Louis. You're amazing." She said after some minutes of silence.
Louis nearly choked on his soda. "Why… why would you say that?"
Kate stared at the crowd and then let out a sigh. "I see how hard you work. No one trains harder than you do. That takes real courage."
Louis's cheeks turned red, surprised by the kindness in her words. He dropped his gaze, focusing on the swirling soda in his cup.
"It doesn't matter," he muttered. "Everyone here is special, while I'm not. By tomorrow, I'll just be a regular kid. Maybe even less than that."
Kate turned to him and frowned. "Don't say that, Louis."
Louis shook his head, feeling the same shame he always did. "Everyone expected me to be something more. My parents—"
Kate became serious. "Your parents were heroes, but you don't have to live their lives. You get to choose your own story, Louis."
Louis let out a sigh, it wasn't as easy has Kate thinks. Rather painful.
He should have easily discovered his magic since both of his parents were legendary Earth Defenders. Tragically, they lost their lives fighting the last Veltrix invasion when Louis was just a toddler.
But for three years in the academy, Louis has worked worked, performed all necessary training, hoping to awaken his magic so he could finally belong.
But nothing happened.
He was only good at hiding in the shadows.
Kate reached out, touching his arm.
"I'd like to see you again," Kate said, giving him a bright smile. "Even if you're not wearing a Defender's badge."
Louis face grew even redder. Kate discovered her magical abilities very early. By next year, she'd be a full-fledged Earth Defender, while Louis was on the edge of being kicked out.
Yet, Louis didn't expect her to be this kind to him. They never really talked throughout the years in the academy.
Why does she want to see him again. Louis thought. Why was she missing him? Noticing him? Does she also have a thing for him?
Just then, a shadow fell over them.
Louis gazed up at the huge boy that approached them.
Jason.
He was taller, broad-shouldered, with a blond crew cut and a sharp jaw.
A senior student, famous for his sound magical abilities.
Louis didn't know him well, but his reputation was enough.
Jason's icy glare flicked from Kate to Louis. "What's going on here?"
"Just talking, Jason," Kate replied as she stood up from the table as well as Louis. Jason ignored her, focusing on Louis. "You think you can steal my girlfriend, loser?"
Louis's heart skipped a beat. "Sorry, what?"
Jason stepped closer. "You heard me."
Suddenly, the music cut out. The crowd fell silent, all eyes on them.
"Look, man," Louis said, "I never had any intentions to..."
Kate stepped between them, separating their closeness. "Jason, stop. He didn't do anything."
"Stay out of this, Kate," Jason sneered.
Whispers began to ripple in the crowd, their words striking Louis ears like needles.
"Isn't that Louis Lee?"
"His parents were Earth Defenders, right?"
"He doesn't have any powers."
"That's pathetic. He's not even gifted. Jason will crush him."
Laughters erupted throughout the hall.
Louis swallowed, his hands shaking as he clenched them. He couldn't take it anymore.
"I don't want to fight, but..." He raised his fist, driving it toward Jason. "But I'm not just going to stand here and take this shit."
Smack!
In an instant, Louis was on the ground, paralyzed, his face pressed into the floor.
Jason had dodged his punch and landed one clean blow to his face.
"Pathetic," Jason spat. "Don't ever try that again."
Louis wanted to stand up, to fight back, but his vision became blurry. Everything turned into a mix of colors, then everything went black.