Ember City
Tap tap tap tap tap… Fast footsteps echoed through the early morning street.
"Hahaha! Look at that loser!" Three noble boys leaned against the school gate, laughing loud like they owned the place.
A boy with green hair and cold icy eyes ran past them without saying a word. He didn't look back. He didn't slow down. He just kept running.
As he got near the school building, two more boys from the corner poured water across the walkway, pretending it was an accident.
His foot hit the water. Slip! His body twisted mid-air and he slammed into the ground, rolling once, twice, then stopped—flat on his back.
More students walked up, laughing. "Loser." "He slipped again." "Hurry, take a picture!" Click. Click. Click.
The boy didn't move. He just stared up at the sky like none of this mattered. His school uniform was wet. His elbow was scraped. But he didn't cry or yell.
After a moment, he slowly sat up and stood.
"Pause," he said. His voice was calm, almost tired. "Let me introduce myself a little."
He turned toward the reader, or maybe the sky.
"I'm Rayden. I'm fifteen. My dad is the richest man in Ember City, but… I hate being rich. I hate it more than being poor. My dream is to become the top hero in the universe. I'm training for it, little by little. Act3… I don't have any magic. But if I keep training, I can achieve something, right?"
He walked forward, hands in his pockets, mind lost in his own words. He crossed the road without looking.
Hooooonk! A driver slammed the brakes.
Rayden blinked. "Ah… sorry!" he said, hurrying across.
From a black car nearby, a boy lowered the window, phone still in his hand.
"Loser."
Rayden flinched. Just that one word again, but it hit harder than a punch. He didn't reply. He just lowered his head and walked on.
"The reason people keep calling me a loser is... because I can't do anything right at school. I always get bullied. I can't play football. Or basketball. Even a chicken knocked me over once... I'm scared of chickens."
He let out a small, bitter laugh. "It's funny, right? But I know I'm weak. Even my dad used to say it."
He walked with his head down, kicking a puddle out of his way. His foot slipped again.
Splash! The water sprayed all over him.
"Ugh…" he sighed, shaking his head. "Great. Just perfect."
Then something floated down from the sky. A poster.
It danced in the air like it had its own will and landed right in front of him.
He picked it up and squinted at the words.
"What's this?" he muttered.
He read it out loud, slowly. "It says… This is Flareborn Academy, a power-based combat school... and we're looking for ten more students for this year."
His eyes widened. "This... this is crazy. This is my dream!"
He didn't waste a second. He turned and ran as fast as he could.
---
At home, his mom was in the kitchen, cooking.
Bam! The door flung open.
"Mom! Mom! Mom!" Rayden shouted as he ran in. "I think my dream is finally coming true! Look at this!"
He handed the poster to her, breathless.
His mother, Aelina, wiped her hands and took the paper. She read it quietly. Her face slowly changed—eyes narrowing, lips tightening.
She looked at Rayden, her expression worried.
"No," she said softly. "You can't join this academy."
Rayden's smile faded. "But why?"
Aelina walked over to him, knelt down, and held his shoulders.
"Listen to me, Rayden. You don't have any magic. That school is built for people with real power. People who can fight, who can defend themselves. It's dangerous. You'll only get hurt."
He pulled away from her hands. "But... Dad was the Black Sun Magus. I have his bloodline!"
Aelina stood still for a moment. Then she shook her head slowly.
"No, my son. Your father lost that power before you were born. His partner betrayed him and drained his gift. There's nothing left in you. I'm sorry... but there's no magic in your blood."
Rayden's eyes trembled. His fists clenched at his sides.
"Fine," he said. He turned and walked toward his room.
Bang! The door shut hard behind him.
Rayden sat on his bed, his fists shaking.
His heart was heavy, and his face was filled with anger and shame. His eyes darted around the room, and before he could stop himself, he grabbed a small wooden box and threw it against the wall. Then he kicked his desk. The books fell off with a thud.
He stood there, breathing hard, then his eyes landed on something—his little savings jar sitting on the shelf.
He paused. His mind went quiet for a second. Then a bad idea came rushing in.
"...If you won't let me go," he muttered, "then I'll go on my own."
Without wasting a second, he pulled out a bag from under his bed and stuffed in clothes, his notebook, the academy flyer, and the jar of money. He looked at the window.
It was late. The sky was dark, but the streetlights were on. He opened the window slowly and peeked outside. Then he threw his bag down first, climbed over the edge, and dropped down carefully.
His feet hit the ground. He picked up his bag, took a deep breath, and ran.
---
Back in the house, Aelina finished preparing dinner. The smell of stew filled the kitchen.
"Rayden! Dinner's ready, come out now!" she called, wiping her hands on her apron.
No answer.
She frowned. "Rayden?" she called again, louder.
Still nothing.
She wiped her hands again, slower this time, and started walking toward his room.
---
Meanwhile, Rayden had already taken the evening train. He sat by the window, his bag on his lap, eyes locked on the stars outside.
It was a long ride. Almost five hours. But finally, the train rolled into a city filled with glowing signs, floating lanterns, and buildings that seemed to breathe with power.
Ignisfall City.
This was it—the city known for its elite magic academies.
Rayden got off the train and asked a few people where Flareborn Academy was. One kind old man pointed him toward the far hill where strange towers touched the clouds.
He followed the directions, step by step, until he stood in front of a massive gate. It was made of black stone with glowing red runes carved across it. Two golden statues stood at each side, holding spears.
Rayden's heart raced. He smiled wide. He looked up at the gate like it was the beginning of everything.
"This is it," he whispered. "My dream... it's finally starting."
He clenched his fist and stepped forward.
"Woo!" he shouted, full of joy. "My dream is coming true no matter what!"
He took one more deep breath. Eyes shut. One step. Then...
Whoosh!
His body vanished into thin air.
—
"...Now I can open my eyes."
He slowly opened them with a grin.
But the smile died the moment he saw what stood in front of him.
"...Mom?"
His eyes widened. Aelina stood there, arms crossed, eyes filled with fire.
Rayden rubbed his eyes fast, thinking maybe it was a dream. But no. It was real.
"H-How?! How did you get here?!" he asked, shocked.
She didn't say anything.
Then he felt the softness under him. He looked down.
"A bed...?"
He raised his head slowly.
He was back home. In his room. On his bed.
His face turned red in seconds. His jaw dropped.
"NOOOO!!" He screamed and threw himself face-down into the pillow.
He kicked his legs like a kid, then rolled over and opened one eye.
"...The end," he said weakly.
Aelina turned and looked at him. She shook her head.
"No," she said calmly. "This isn't the end. This is just the beginning."
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