Chapter 4 – A Flicker in the Dark
Leo didn't remember how he got back to his seat.
The classroom felt distant.
Voices blurred together—
Laughter.
Excitement.
Relief.
All of it… felt far away.
Everyone had awakened.
Everyone—
Except him.
As he sat down, Leo slowly adjusted his sleeve—
Carefully.
Hiding the bruises on his arm.
His body ached.
Every small movement sent a dull pain and everything he had endured just to get here.
But compared to what he felt now—
It was nothing.
His fingers tightened slightly.
No response.
Those words echoed again and again in his mind.
It wasn't just failure.
It was… rejection.
Like the world itself had denied him.
"…Leo."
Kael's voice came from beside him.
But Leo didn't respond.
He just stared at his hands.
What am I supposed to do now…?
For a moment—
Everything felt empty.
Then—
Something shifted.
Faint.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Leo's breath caught.
That feeling again.
It wasn't mana.
He had seen mana all day—felt it from others.
Sharp.
Active.
Violent.
But this—
This was different.
Quiet.
Deep.
Like something flowing beneath everything else.
Leo slowly closed his eyes.
This time… he didn't force it.
He just fell the presence.
Faint—
But real.
His fingers trembled slightly.
And for a brief moment—
It responded.
Not like mana.
Not something he could control.
But something that… acknowledged him.
Leo's eyes snapped open.
"…I'm not… powerless?"
A shaky breath escaped his lips.
Then—
A quiet laugh.
Soft.
Uncertain.
But real.
Relief spread through his chest.
Not complete.
Not enough to erase everything.
But enough to hold onto.
"…It's different," he whispered.
Maybe—
Just maybe—
He hadn't been left behind.
"Oi."
Kael nudged him again.
"You finally back to life?"
Leo blinked, then looked at him.
"…Yeah."
Kael studied his face for a moment.
Then smirked.
"Good. Thought you were gonna turn into a statue."
Leo exhaled quietly.
"…Shut up."
Kael stretched his arms.
"It's getting late. Let's head home."
Leo nodded.
As they stepped outside—
The world felt louder.
Brighter.
Alive.
Newly awakened students were everywhere, already showing off their abilities.
"I got Fire affinity!"
"Mine's Wind!"
"Check this out—I can reinforce my arms!"
Groups gathered, comparing powers, laughing, planning their future.
Leo watched them.
And for a moment—
He felt it.
That small sting.
Jealousy.
Kael yawned and stretched.
"Man… today was insane," he said. "Everyone's already talking about training… about their future."
He paused.
Then glanced at Leo.
Just for a second—
His grin softened.
"…Hey."
Leo looked at him.
"Come over to my place," Kael said casually. "We'll just chill."
Leo blinked.
"…Your place?"
"Yeah."
Kael scratched the back of his head.
"We've got this old console from before the Monster Era. Still works somehow."
He grinned.
"Let's play."
For a moment—
Leo didn't answer.
Then he stood.
"…Alright."
Kael's grin widened.
"That's what I'm talking about."
Later — Kael's House
The city outside had changed.
Reinforced walls.
Watchtowers.
Hunters moving in groups.
A world shaped by survival.
But inside Kael's house—
It felt… normal.
Messy.
Lived-in.
Comfortable.
"Welcome to my humble base," Kael said proudly.
Leo looked around.
"…It's noisy."
"Hey, that's personality."
Kael walked to a corner—
And pulled out something old.
A dusty console.
Wires taped together.
Controller slightly cracked.
"This," Kael said dramatically, "is a relic of the Old Era."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"…That thing still works?"
"Of course it does."
Kael smacked the top of it.
"Don't underestimate Old Era tech."
He plugged it in.
The screen flickered.
Glitched—
Then turned on.
"…No way," Leo muttered.
Kael tossed him a controller.
"Let's go."
A Few Minutes Later
"OI—YOU'RE SPAMMING!"
"I'm not spamming, you just suck."
"THAT MOVE IS BROKEN!"
"Then stop getting hit!"
The room filled with noise.
Shouting.
Laughter.
Energy.
And Leo—
Was smiling.
It had been a while.
Since he felt like this.
For a moment—
He forgot everything.
The Awakening.
The failure.
The whispers.
He was just… living.
"YES! I WON!"
Kael jumped up.
Leo leaned back, exhaling.
"…Rematch."
"Oh? You're confident now?"
Leo smirked slightly.
"…Shut up and play."
Kael laughed.
"Alright, alright!"
Outside—
The world was dangerous.
Unforgiving.
Changing.
But inside that small room—
For a little while—
Things felt simple again.
And deep within Leo—
That quiet presence…
Stirred once more.
Not loud.
Not powerful.
But waiting.