I didn't sleep well.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it again.
The spark. The fight. The way he stepped back. The way people looked at me after.
Not laughing.
Not really.
Just… staring.
It felt weird.
I sat up slowly, my body aching like I got hit by a truck. My hands were worse now. Blisters on top of blisters. Some already torn open. It stung just moving my fingers.
But when I looked at them…
A tiny spark flickered.
Still there.
Still mine.
I let out a slow breath.
"Good…"
I got up, legs shaky, head heavy, but something inside me felt different. Not big. Not strong. Just… not as broken as before.
The hallway was louder today. People everywhere. Talking. Laughing. Moving in groups.
And when I walked past…
They looked.
I felt it.
Whispers.
"That's him…"
"The weak kid…"
"No… the one from yesterday…"
My chest tightened. My hands curled. Part of me wanted to hide again. Just run back to my room and pretend none of this was happening.
But I didn't.
I kept walking.
Slow. Stiff. Trying not to look scared.
Trying not to be that same weak kid again.
The training yard was already full when I got there.
Too many people.
Too many eyes.
My stomach dropped.
I almost turned back.
Almost.
Then I saw him.
The bully.
Standing there with his arms crossed, talking to a few others. Laughing like nothing happened. Like yesterday didn't exist.
Something inside me burned.
Hot. Ugly. Real.
I walked forward.
One step.
Then another.
My hands started shaking. The spark flickered, reacting to my nerves.
He noticed me.
Of course he did.
His smile faded just a little. Not fully. But enough.
"Well," he said, loud enough for people to hear. "Look who decided to come back."
A few people turned. Watching. Waiting.
My chest felt tight. My throat dry.
But I didn't stop.
"I'm not leaving," I said.
My voice wasn't strong.
But it didn't break.
That was new.
He laughed. But it sounded… off this time.
"Good. Makes it easier."
He stepped forward.
Closer.
Too close.
My spark reacted instantly. Flickering faster. Brighter.
The system whispered quietly:
[Warning: Elevated stress detected]
[Skill Suggestion: Spark Shield]
I swallowed. My body moved before my brain could think.
A faint shimmer wrapped around me.
Weak. Shaky. But there.
His eyes narrowed.
"Oh… you learned something new," he said.
The people around us leaned in slightly. Watching.
Waiting.
I hated this.
I hated being watched.
But I hated being weak more.
"Let's go," he said. "Right now."
No teacher. No signal. Nothing official.
Just a fight.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"I…" I hesitated.
Fear hit hard. Fast.
What if I lose?
What if yesterday was luck?
What if I'm still nothing?
My hands shook harder. The spark flickered like it might disappear.
Then…
Weakness is not the end.
Weakness is the start.
I clenched my fists.
"I'll fight."
The words came out quiet. But real.
That was enough.
He moved first. Fast again. Always fast.
I barely reacted in time. My body screamed as I forced the shield up stronger.
Impact.
Pain shot through my arm even with the shield. I stumbled back. My legs almost gave out.
Too slow.
Still too slow.
Panic rushed in. My chest tightened. My vision blurred for a second.
He smirked.
"See? Still weak."
The words hit harder than the attack.
Something snapped inside me.
Not loud. Not dramatic.
Just… quiet.
Cold.
I stopped thinking.
I just moved.
My hand shot forward.
Spark.
Faster than before. Cleaner. Sharper.
It hit him.
Not big. Not strong.
But enough.
He flinched.
And that… that was everything.
I stepped forward.
Another spark.
Then another.
Messy. Not perfect. But controlled enough.
My chest burned. My arms screamed. My hands felt like they were on fire.
But I didn't stop.
For once… I didn't stop.
He backed up.
Actually backed up.
"What is wrong with you?" he snapped.
I didn't answer.
Didn't even think.
Just moved.
The shield flickered around me. Weak but holding. My sparks pushed forward again.
He blocked one. Dodged another. But not all.
A spark grazed his side.
He hissed.
And suddenly…
He looked unsure.
That look.
I saw it clearly.
And something inside me lit up.
Hope.
Real hope.
I pushed again.
Harder.
Too hard.
The spark exploded out of control.
My vision flashed. My body jerked. Pain shot through my arms.
Everything stopped.
Silence.
Smoke curled between us.
I dropped to one knee, gasping. My chest tight. My hands shaking badly now.
Too much.
I overdid it.
He stood there, breathing hard, staring at me.
Not laughing.
Not smiling.
Just… staring.
Confused.
Careful.
"...you're weird," he muttered.
Then he stepped back.
And walked away.
Just like that.
No final hit.
No last insult.
Just… left.
The yard stayed quiet for a second.
Then whispers exploded.
"Did you see that?"
"He pushed him back…"
"That's the weak kid?"
I couldn't even stand.
I just sat there, breathing hard, staring at my shaking hands.
The spark flickered weakly.
Still there.
Still alive.
The system pulsed softly:
[Skill Growth Detected]
[Spark Control Increased]
[New Path Unlocking Soon…]
I let out a small laugh.
Messy. Tired.
But real.
I'm still weak.
I know that.
But…
Not like before.
Not completely.
I looked at my hands again.
"They're starting to notice…" I whispered.
And for once…
I didn't feel like disappearing.
I felt like staying.
Fighting.
Growing.
No matter how messy it gets.
I'm Kai.
Still the weak kid.
But not forever.
Tomorrow…
I'll show them more.