The city of Kael'Drin never slept. Towering skyscrapers reflected neon lights onto the rain-slicked streets below, casting colors like liquid fire. Yet, amidst the bustling crowd, one boy walked alone, unnoticed, almost invisible. His name was Arakio.
At fourteen, he was lanky, awkward, and clumsy—more a shadow than a person. At school, he was mocked relentlessly. "Trash," they called him. "Useless." Even his so-called friends avoided him, wary of the strange aura he unknowingly carried—a faint hum of something powerful, yet unformed.
Tonight, the city felt different. A chill ran through the streets, unnatural. Shadows flickered, and whispers brushed his ears like cold wind. Arakio shivered but pressed on, clutching the torn strap of his backpack. He had learned long ago: the world didn't care about him.
And yet…
A sudden scream pierced the air. The street ahead erupted into chaos. A creature, twisted and inhuman, clawed its way out of a portal that shimmered like black oil. Its eyes glowed red, and every step it took shattered concrete. People ran screaming, their fear feeding the monster.
Arakio froze, heart hammering. His instinct screamed to flee. But something deep inside—something primal—stirred. A gnawing hunger, a pull toward the danger, as if the chaos itself called to him.
The creature's gaze landed on him, and for a brief, horrifying moment, it paused, tilting its head. Arakio felt heat crawl through his chest, his body trembling with a power he had never known.
"No… not me," he whispered. But his hands moved before his mind could catch up.
A flash of light erupted from his palms—a jagged, searing force that tore through the monster's shadowy form. It screeched, staggering backward, and for the first time, Arakio realized he hadn't just hit it. He had absorbed its energy, and something inside him had awakened.
The world seemed sharper, louder. Every heartbeat of the city, every breath of the frightened citizens, resonated inside him. His eyes flickered with strange light—shades of gold and violet intertwined.
Before he could understand what had just happened, a figure appeared in the distance. Tall, cloaked, eyes cold and calculating, yet strangely knowing.
"You've been noticed, Arakio." The voice was smooth, deliberate. "And now… there's no turning back."
Arakio swallowed hard, his legs trembling. "Who… who are you?"
The figure stepped closer, the neon reflecting off the silver clasp of his cloak. "I am merely a teacher. But you, child… are something else entirely. Something… the world isn't ready for."
Lightning cracked across the sky. In that moment, the city felt small, the danger infinite, and Arakio realized one terrifying truth: he was no longer just a boy. He was the beginning of something far greater—and far more dangerous—than he could imagine.
As the creature dissolved into nothingness, Arakio's hands shook. He had survived. He had won.
But deep inside, a voice whispered:
"Hunger… awaken."
And in that whisper, a journey began.
✨
Chapter 1 Summary / Cliffhanger:
Introduced Arakio, bullied & ordinary boy with dormant power.
First supernatural threat appears → hints at world's danger & creatures.
Arakio unknowingly awakens first stage of Bhuk (Hunger).
Mysterious mentor/teacher notices him → sets up academy arc.
Ends with suspense & power tease → perfect hook for Chapter 2.