As Vondrel settled into his new life, he began to realize that he had found something truly special. This was more than just a group of friends - it was a family. They had each other's backs, no matter what.
One night, as they sat in the common room, swapping stories and laughter, Vondrel felt a sense of belonging that he had never known before. He was home.
But as the days wore on, Vondrel began to realize that not everything was as perfect as it seemed.
Vondrel's days blurred together in a haze of humiliation and drudgery. He was forced to live a low profile, avoiding the sneers and taunts of his peers. He kept his head down, never making eye contact, never speaking unless spoken to.
He became a ghost, a shadow of a student, invisible and insignificant. His only friends were the books in the library, his three friends and James which joined their crew.
Even in the library, Vondrel couldn't escape the whispers. "Look at him, the failure, hiding among the books." "What's the point of reading, you'll never be able to awaken any ability."
Vondrel's heart ached, his soul crushed by the constant barrage of insults. He felt like he was drowning, suffocating under the weight of his own inadequacy.
He began to doubt himself, to wonder if he truly belonged in the academy. Maybe he was just a fool, deluding himself into thinking he could ever be a true awaken.
But deep down, a spark of determination still burned. Vondrel refused to give up, refused to let the haters win. He poured over his books, studying harder than ever, practicing his combat skills and ATP determined to prove himself.
His friends were also supporting him, even though they are also at the center of concentration of the vicious peers.
Vondrel's life in the academy was a never-ending nightmare. He was forced to live a low profile, always looking over his shoulder, never knowing when the next attack would come.
Influential students, fueled by their own ambition and desire for power, took great pleasure in tormenting him. They saw him as a weakling, a failure, and delighted in making his life a living hell.
Vondrel endured it all, his body and mind battered by the constant barrage of torture. He was beaten, mocked, and humiliated, his spirit slowly breaking under the weight of their cruelty.
'damn it' he cursed silently as he endured the torture.
' If only I can make use of this power in public, if only i can just.....if only....' he growled as he channel the ATP in his body.
But still, he refused to give up. He knew that he had to keep going, no matter how hard it got. He had to prove to himself, and to others, that he was more than just a failure.
One day, Vondrel was cornered by a group of students in the academy's courtyard. They taunted him, their words cutting deep into his soul. "You're nothing but a waste of space," one of them sneered. "You'll never be a true awaken."
" You know you shouldn't be here at all"
" A mistake like you isn't needed here "
Vondrel tried to stand tall, but his legs trembled beneath him. He knew he couldn't fight back, not against so many. So he did the only thing he could - he endured.
He and his friends endured insults, and torture mainly because of their relationship with him.
James especially was dragged into a brawl several times with those in his band, because of his relation with Vondrel and the rest.
Sometimes he comes out unscathed, sometimes with wounds.
.....,
Vondrel trudged through the academy's halls, his feet heavy with the weight of another long day. He was a lowlife, a nobody, and he knew it. But he didn't care. He had his friends, and together, they made their own fun.
Sam was the jokester, always cracking wise and making them laugh. Noah was the brains, always tinkering with gadgets and finding new ways to get them out of trouble. Noah was the wild card, always up for an adventure and never backing down from a fight. And Timmy... Timmy was the heart, always looking out for them and keeping them together.
Together, they formed a misfit crew, always on the fringes of academy life. They didn't have the powers or the prestige of the elite students, but they had something else - a bond that couldn't be broken.
They spent their days dodging teachers and sneaking into forbidden parts of the academy. They explored hidden passages and secret rooms, always on the lookout for the next big thrill.
At night, they huddled together in their dorm room, swapping stories and sharing laughter. They were each other's family, and they knew it.
But life as a lowlife wasn't always easy. They had to fight for every scrap of food, every moment of freedom. The elite students looked down on them, sneering at their lack of exquisite powers and prestige.
Vondrel and his friends didn't let it get to them, though. They knew they had something special, something that the elite students would never understand.
One night, as they sat in their dorm room, swapping stories and laughter, Vondrel realized that he had found his true home. This was where he belonged - with his friends, on the fringes of academy life.
As they settled in for the night, Vondrel smiled, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him. He knew that tomorrow would bring its own set of challenges, but he was ready. He had his friends, and together, they could face anything.
But little did they know, their carefree days were numbered. A new thrill was emerging, one that would test their prowess and their resolve like never before. The academy was changing, and Vondrel and his friends were about to find themselves at the center of the storm.
As the days passed, Vondrel and his friends continued to live life on their own terms. They explored every nook and cranny of the academy, always pushing the boundaries and testing the limits.
They were mostly ignored since they weren't seen as valuables nor as threats.
But despite their carefree existence, they couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The academy was changing, and not for the better.
The air seems tense, everyone seems on edge.
New students were arriving, students with powers and abilities that Vondrel and his friends couldn't even dream of. They were the elite, the chosen ones, and they looked down on Vondrel and his friends with disdain.
The teachers were changing too, becoming stricter and more demanding. They seemed to be pushing the students harder, driving them to be better, to be more.
Vondrel and his friends didn't understand what was happening, but they knew they didn't like it. They felt like they were being left behind, like they were no longer a part of the academy.
One night, as they sat in their dorm room, trying to make sense of it all, Sam suddenly broke the silence.
"Is it me, or is the whole academy too serious about this upcoming competition."
They all gave it a thought.
" Exactly, it isn't even the main academy competition." Vondrel said
" It isn't the main competition.... correct. But we should know that it's a way to build and train us all for the upcoming competition. The bliss there is that you get to be picked, not everyone can participate." Timmy said ad he studied their expressions.
"I guess you all know what I meant by not everyone." He added
" Yeah, we aren't even dreaming of being selected." Noah said.
" Not that we can do anything, even if we are selected." They all gave vondrel a somber look.
The room fell silent for long minutes before being broken by Noah
" Let's go to bed guys, we have a long day tomorrow."