A Day at School

Chapter 4

It's been a week since I gained access to the energy. Everything has been mostly normal, outside of the fact that I have to balance studying and practicing with the energy I now refer to as mana. It's simply because that's what the cloaked man had referred to it as.

I sat in my first-period class, tapping my pencil absentmindedly against the edge of my desk. The monotone drone of my history teacher filled the room, but my mind was elsewhere. Every now and then, I glanced at the clock, watching the seconds tick by. I had been practicing with my mana every night, but the exhaustion was starting to catch up with me.

"Mr. Gray, can you tell us the significance of the Treaty of Versailles?" the teacher's voice cut through my thoughts.

I blinked and sat up straight, trying to recall the lesson. "Uh, it was the peace treaty that ended World War I," I managed.

The teacher gave me a scrutinizing look but nodded. "Correct. Now, moving on..."

I sighed in relief, sinking back into my chair. As the morning classes dragged on, I found myself daydreaming about the strange powers I had been developing. I was eager to test them out more, but I also knew I had to be careful.

During lunch, I sat with my friends, trying to act as normal as possible. They joked and laughed, discussing the latest movies and school gossip. I joined in, but my mind kept drifting back to my training and the constant unease I felt.

"Earth to Ethen!" my friend Lisa waved a hand in front of my face.

"Huh? Oh, sorry," I said, forcing a smile. "Just a bit tired, I guess."

"You've been zoning out a lot lately. Everything okay?" she asked, concern in her eyes.

"Yeah, just a lot on my mind," I replied, not wanting to worry my friends with the bizarre truth.

The rest of the school day passed without incident, though I struggled to concentrate in my classes. By the time the final bell rang, I was more than ready to leave. I grabbed my backpack and headed out, hoping to get some training in before dinner.

As I walked home, I decided to take a detour through the park. It was a peaceful place where I could think and practice without interruptions. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the trees and pathways.

I found a secluded spot and set my backpack down. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, focusing on the mana within me. I had been getting better at controlling it, but there was still so much I didn't understand.

Just as I was about to start practicing, I felt a presence nearby. My eyes snapped open, scanning the area. At first, I saw nothing, but then a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a man, tall and imposing, with dark hair and a cruel smile.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the man sneered, his eyes gleaming with malice.

I felt a chill run down my spine. "Who are you?" I demanded, taking a step back.

The man laughed, a low, menacing sound. "Let's just say I'm here to collect something. And that something is you."

Before I could react, the man lunged at me with incredible speed. I barely had time to dodge, stumbling backward. I quickly summoned my mana, but the man was relentless, attacking with a flurry of blows.

I fought back as best I could, using my newfound powers to counter the attacks. But it was clear I was outmatched. The man moved with supernatural speed and strength, his strikes landing with bone-crushing force.

Desperation surged through me as I struggled to keep up. I was quickly losing ground, my energy draining fast. The man's laughter echoed in my ears, a cruel reminder of how powerless I felt.

"Is this all you've got?" the man taunted, landing a blow that sent me sprawling to the ground.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to stand. I could feel my mana fluctuating wildly within me, a chaotic storm of power. I had no choice—I had to tap into the deeper well of my abilities, even if it meant losing control.

As the man charged at me again, I closed my eyes and reached deep within myself, seeking the source of my power. I felt a surge of energy, unlike anything I had experienced before. My body began to change, the mana flowing through me with a fierce intensity.

Elegant, curved horns emerged from my forehead, and a decagram halo floated above my head, radiating a soft, ethereal light. A single pair of black wings sprouted from my back, and my eyes transformed, glowing with a piercing silver light.

The man hesitated, clearly taken aback by my transformation. "What that form you're an angel no your wings are black a fallen no you have horns a demon. it doesn't make any sense. What are you?" he hissed, anger and fear mixing in his voice.

I didn't answer. My body was once more on autopilot. I reached out toward him and I clenched my hand in a crushing motion.

"Stop existing."

With that, the man disintegrated into nothingness leaving nothing behind not even ash. I stood there, panting heavily, my vision swimming. The transformation had taken a toll on me, and I could feel my strength fading fast. As the adrenaline wore off, I collapsed to my knees, my body trembling.

The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was a figure approaching, a woman with teal hair and a slightly wavy texture. Her hair fell gracefully down to the middle of her back, and she had golden eyes. Her slender yet athletic build had well-defined curves, and she had a moderate, fitting athletic physique with a pale skin tone. The woman knelt beside me, her golden eyes filled with intrigue.

"What do we have here," she said softly.

Then everything went black.

Chapter 4: End