### Chapter 1: Awakening in the Shadows
The city awoke under a bright, sunny sky, its streets abuzz with the early-morning rush. Among the throng of commuters was Alex Storm, a young man with bright red hair, light skin, and glasses, racing down the sidewalk. He was late for his orientation at Wright High Academy, renowned for its distinguished curriculum and enigmatic aura.
Following his father's death, Alex's family faced severe financial hardship and relocated to a different town. His mother, Mrs. Laura Storm, worked tirelessly to support her three children—two daughters and Alex. To ease the burden, Alex took up a part-time delivery job, its modest earnings crucial for contributing to the household. With determination, he saved enough for tuition and excelled in the entrance exams, securing his place at Wright High Academy.
Sweat-soaked and breathless, Alex finally reached the school's imposing gates. There, he met his new friend, Jake Carter, whom he had first encountered during the entrance exams. Jake, tall and muscular with a broad face, was often likened to a mythical figure.
"Alex, you're ten minutes late! You look like you've run a gauntlet," Jake said, his voice laced with concern.
"Thanks, Jake. I was so excited about today that I couldn't sleep," Alex replied, catching his breath.
Jake's eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and worry. "Come on, let's get inside before you miss more."
Inside the grand hall of Wright High, Alex and Jake found their seats as Anabelle Whitmore, the council president, addressed the new students. Anabelle, with her light blue eyes and hair the color of a blue pearl, radiated an ethereal grace that captivated the audience. Flanking her were the other council members: Luke Harrington, Mark Bennett, and James Hunter.
Following the orientation, students were to select their courses and explore the school. Alex and Jake made their way to the canteen for lunch.
"So, Alex, what do you think of the council president? Isn't she stunning?" Jake asked.
"She's impressive, but my focus is on my studies and future," Alex replied.
"Come on, don't be so serious. Let's enjoy the day. Oh, it's our turn."
They bought their meals and sat down. A commotion erupted nearby as James Hunter, one of the council members and captain of the academy's Ruby sports team, entered. With his chiseled physique, dazzling smile, and flowing dark hair, James quickly drew attention, especially from the female students.
"Alex, doesn't this guy get way too much attention? He's incredibly lucky," Jake observed.
"Jake, sometimes you exaggerate. Let's finish eating and move on," Alex said, trying to stay focused.
As they left the canteen, Alex accidentally bumped into a petite girl, causing them both to stumble.
"Ouch, that hurt. Can you please stand up?" she said, her voice soft and apologetic.
"Uh… oh! I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there," Alex stammered, helping her up.
"Are you two okay?" Jake asked, noticing the girl. She was short and charming, with long brown hair and clear blue eyes.
"She's quite cute," Jake whispered.
The girl reassured them she was fine and walked away, leaving Alex with an unfamiliar flutter in his chest.
"I think I might have just fallen in love. She's really cute!" Alex said, still watching her retreating figure.
"Stop daydreaming. We've got to get going," Jake said.
After the day's events, Alex bid farewell to Jake and headed to his part-time job. He carried a change of clothes in his bag, ready for the evening shift. Working at a fast-food place, he handled deliveries as part of his routine. That night, he was assigned to deliver ramen to a district notorious for its danger. Undeterred, Alex decided to take a shortcut to speed up his journey home.
As he navigated the dimly lit streets, he found himself surrounded by a gang. Panic surged through him.
"I'm in trouble," he thought, his heart pounding.
The gang leader approached with a menacing grin. "Well, well, what do we have here? Who ordered the ramen?"
"Boss, I think we've struck gold. Free food!" one gang member said.
The leader's gaze turned steely as he focused on Alex. "Since those other guys cut off our supplies, we could use this. Hand over your stuff, and maybe we'll let you go."
Alex, desperate and fearful, tried to reason. "Sir, I can't give you anything. This job is my only means to help my family."
The boss laughed, a harsh sound that echoed in the night. "You want to be difficult? Who cares about your family? Boys, teach him a lesson."
The gang closed in, their shadows merging with the encroaching darkness. As they lunged for Alex, a bottle struck him on the head, sending him into a haze. As consciousness faded, he saw a figure emerge from the shadows—a man dressed in black, his face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat. The man moved with precision and strength, dispatching the gang with ease. Alex barely registered the words the figure spoke before slipping into unconsciousness.
When Alex Storm awoke, he was met with a wave of dizziness and a pounding headache. "Where am I?" he muttered, squinting at the blurry room around him. As his vision cleared, he realized he was back in his own bedroom. Confused, he asked aloud, "How did I get here? What happened?"
He tried to push through the fog in his head, rubbing his temples as he struggled to recall the events of the previous night. He noticed that his eyesight, previously impaired, was now perfectly clear without his glasses. "Wow, this is strange," he murmured, astonished. "How come my vision is so clear?"
Disregarding the oddity for the moment, he glanced at the clock and saw that he was once again running late for school. "I really need a break from this part-time job," he thought. "I don't even remember how I got home. I'll have to ask Mum."
Rushing through his morning routine, he made his way downstairs for breakfast. The house, though modest, was cozy and just right for a family of three.
"Hi, Mum. Good morning," Alex greeted.
"Good morning, Alex. I hope you had a good night's rest," his mother, Clara Storm, replied warmly.
"It was okay, I guess," Alex said, taking a seat. "Mum, did anything unusual happen last night? Did you receive any calls or see anyone?"
His mother gave him a puzzled look. "Hmm, no, nothing out of the ordinary. Well, you did get a call from your part-time job asking you to come in today. That's all I can recall."
Alex's mind raced as he tried to piece together how he ended up in his room. "Mum, are you sure? What time did I get here yesterday?"
Clara thought for a moment. "I was waiting for you, but when I went upstairs to check, you were already in your room. I was a bit surprised. Why are you asking all these questions? Is something wrong?"
Alex quickly dismissed her concern with a shake of his head and finished his breakfast. His two sisters had already left for school, so he grabbed his bag and hurried out the door.
"Alex, you're late again!" Jake called out as Alex arrived at school, his worry evident. "I'm going to be worried one day if you keep missing classes like this."
"Don't worry, Jake. I won't let it happen again," Alex assured him, though he was still preoccupied with his strange experience.
"Okay, I believe you. Let's get inside," Jake said, leading the way.
As they walked into the school, Alex's mind was still buzzing with unanswered questions. How did he get home last night? What was the significance of his new, perfect eyesight? And who was the mysterious man in black who had saved him? With a deep breath, he pushed these thoughts aside, focusing on making it through the day. Little did he know that his life was about to take an even more unexpected turn.
During lunch, Alex found himself alone. Jake had met Sarah Flow, a first-year student like them. Despite his dislike for libraries, Jake followed her there—anything for love, he mused. Meanwhile, Alex sat in the busy canteen, his thoughts lingering on the events of the previous night. The food tasted off today, just like breakfast had. He wondered if the recipe had changed or if something was wrong with him.
Alex couldn't shake off the headache that spiked whenever he tried to remember the face of the mysterious man who had saved him. "I need to stop thinking about all this," he muttered. He hadn't even told Jake about the incident, knowing his friend would never let him hear the end of it. Deciding he needed a drink to wash down the bad taste, he headed to the vending machine and grabbed a can of Coke.
As he sipped his drink, he overheard a conversation. Two students were discussing how to bully a first-year student for not giving up his lunchbox. Intrigued and concerned, Alex decided to investigate, realizing that despite the noise in the canteen, he could hear the conversation clearly from a distance.
He discovered the voices belonged to two second-year bullies. Despite his usual reluctance to get involved in others' problems, Alex couldn't ignore this situation. He followed the bullies to the back of the school, where he saw a boy tied up and being beaten. A surge of adrenaline propelled him forward. Without thinking, Alex charged at the leader, punching him square in the face.
The leader fell, and Alex quickly untied the boy, telling him to run. The boy, showing gratitude, dashed away. The leader stood up, cursing Alex. "Who the hell are you? It doesn't matter. You're going to pay for this," he snarled. The bullies surrounded Alex, and he braced himself for the worst.
To his surprise, the first attack came slowly, and he easily dodged it. The second attack was just as slow. Shocked, Alex realized his reflexes were heightened. When the leader moved to punch him, Alex blocked it and struck back with all his strength, sending the leader flying. The remaining bullies stared in disbelief. One swung a stick at Alex, who blocked it with his arm, shattering the stick. Alex then punched the assailant in the face, knocking him out. The last bully fled, but Alex caught and subdued him.
Leaving the scene with a mix of satisfaction and confusion, Alex pondered his newfound abilities. He returned to school, heading straight to the restroom to gather his thoughts. His eyesight was perfect, even without his glasses, and his hearing was unnaturally sharp. "What is happening to me?" he wondered. "I feel strange... stronger."
After school, Alex went to his part-time job, despite it being his day off. The manager, Mr. Aang, was a short, rotund man in his forties who had given Alex the job. "Hi, Mr. Aang. You called me?"
"Yes, Alex. We tried reaching you yesterday, but your phone was off," Mr. Aang said.
Alex remembered losing his phone during the incident. "I had a small incident last night. I was attacked by a gang and passed out."
Mr. Aang nodded. "I understand. Don't worry about the losses. You've been a hardworking employee."
"Thank you, Mr. Aang."
As Alex left, Mr. Aang remarked on the full moon that night. Walking home, Alex smelled blood. He followed the scent to an alley where a man was robbing someone at knifepoint. Alex called out, allowing the victim to escape. The attacker turned to Alex, demanding his money.
Before Alex could react, intense pain surged through his body. His bones cracked and reshaped, causing him to collapse. The attacker, thinking he had an easy target, laughed. But as Alex's transformation completed, he stood up, feeling a powerful change within him.
Two hours later, Alex woke up in a park near his street, naked and covered in blood. Disoriented, he sneaked back home through the bushes and climbed into his room through the window. Just as he thought he was safe, his little sister, Lapis, caught him.
"What are you doing in my room?" he exclaimed, quickly covering himself.
"I heard a noise outside and came to check," Lapis replied.
"Get out!" he demanded.
"Not until you tell me why you're naked," she insisted.
After some back-and-forth, Alex made up a story about swimming in the lake and losing his clothes. Satisfied, Lapis left, and Alex quickly changed and went to dinner. He lied to his mother about his day, grateful that Mr. Aang hadn't reported the incident.
That night, Alex reflected on his day. He was certain now—he was no longer human. He fell asleep, unaware of the profound changes his body was undergoing.
The morning sun streamed through the window, waking Alex. As he stood up, he noticed changes. He was taller, his hair longer, and his once-skinny body was now well-built. His senses were heightened—he could see and hear with uncanny clarity.
Downstairs, Lapis was stunned. "Who are you? And what were you doing in my brother's room?"
"It's me, Lapis. I just look a bit different," Alex said.
"You look like you had a makeover," she said, skeptical.
"Maybe it's my daily workout," Alex suggested.
At breakfast, Alex devoured pancakes and steak, savoring the flavors. "Thanks, Mom. I'm off now."
"Alex, you look different today. Did you have a makeover?" his mother asked.
"No, Mom. See you later!" he replied, rushing out.
Meeting Jake on the way, Alex greeted him. "Yo, Jake."
Jake looked puzzled. "Are you talking to me?"
"Jake, it's me, Alex!"
"Alex? You look like you had a makeover."
"Enough with the makeover comments! Let's go," Alex said, feeling both flattered and frustrated.
They headed to school, Alex marveling at his new abilities and determined to uncover the truth behind his transformation.