The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the cobblestone streets of the bustling city. Towering buildings loomed on either side, their grand architecture a testament to the power and wealth of those who resided within. The people who walked these streets moved with purpose, their steps confident and assured, each one possessing abilities that made them stand out in a world where power was everything. But amidst the crowd, one boy walked alone, unnoticed and ignored.
He was small for his age, his clothes tattered and worn, his shoes barely holding together. His dark hair fell messily over his eyes, obscuring the quiet determination that burned within them. He was an orphan, nameless and forgotten, and unlike everyone around him, he had no power, no magic to call his own.
It was cruel, this world where even a name was a luxury. But to the boy, it didn't matter there was no one to call him by it anyway. He had lived his entire life alone, ignored, and forgotten. To those around him, he was just a number, a fleeting presence that would eventually fade into oblivion. Yet, despite the harshness of his existence, there was a cold calm in his eyes, like nothing could shake him.
The boy moved skillfully through the crowd, his small frame slipping between the gaps of people who paid him no mind. Despite his ragged appearance, there was a grace in his movements, a silent rhythm that allowed him to navigate the bustling streets with ease. Ignored by the world, he had learned to move through it like a shadow unnoticed, but ever-present.
As he continued down the path, the distant chatter of the marketplace filled the air, the scent of freshly baked bread and roasting meat mingling with the less pleasant odors of the city. The boy's stomach growled, a sharp reminder of his hunger, but he pushed the thought aside. He had learned long ago how to manage on little.
His path led him toward the edge of the city, where the buildings were smaller, and the streets less crowded. Here, the grand architecture gave way to simpler structures, and the people, while still possessing abilities, were less ostentatious in their display of power. It was a place where the boy felt more at ease, away from the towering shadows of those who ruled the city with their might.
But even here, the boy was alone. He knew every crack in the cobblestone, every corner where he could hide, every place where he could find a moment's respite from the world. Yet, the isolation gnawed at him, a constant reminder of his place in this world a place with no name, no power, no future.
Still, the boy held onto that quiet determination, the burning fire within him that refused to be extinguished. He had no power, no magic, but he had something that no one could take away from him his will. And that was enough.
As he reached the outskirts of the city, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in hues of red and orange. The boy paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the fading light.
One day, he whispered to the wind, "they'll all know my name."
Even though he didn't have a name now, one day he would have one greater than anyone's.
The boy's stomach growled again, a sharp reminder of the hunger gnawing at him. But his mind was already focused, scanning the streets as he walked. He had done this countless times before, slipping into the shadows, picking the right target, and making a clean escape. He knew the risks, knew what could happen if things went wrong, but he had survived this long by being careful, by always having a plan.
His eyes looked around to find his prey there were not many people suitable he need to find a rich pray then his eyes locked onto a man walking alone down a narrow side street. The man was dressed in black, his clothes expensive and well-tailored, marking him as someone with money. But it was the way he walked that caught the boy's attention confident, but not alert, like someone who didn't expect trouble. The boy's instincts flared; this man was rich and seemed like an easy target.
The boy hesitated for only a moment before he made his decision. He moved closer, slipping through the crowd like a shadow. His heart pounded in his chest, but his mind was clear, already mapping out the escape routes. If things went wrong, he'd slip through the gap between the buildings, lose the man in the alleyways, and disappear before anyone could catch him. He'd done it before, and he'd do it again.
As he approached the man, the boy kept his distance, observing him closely. His eyes narrowed as he noted the man's posture and the confident way he moved. Something about it set off alarms in his mind, but desperation drove him forward. He couldn't afford to be picky about his targets; hunger gnawed at his insides, reminding him that failure was not an option.
The boy had been in dangerous situations before, and he knew better than to act rashly. He mentally rehearsed his escape plan, noting every possible route, every corner where he could duck into the shadows and disappear. His small frame and agility were his greatest assets, and he intended to use them to their fullest. If the man turned out to be more formidable than expected, the boy was ready to abandon the attempt and retreat.
With careful precision, the boy moved closer, his footsteps silent on the cobblestones. He had spent years honing this skill moving unseen, unheard, like a ghost in the night. As he reached out to snatch the man's purse, his fingers barely brushing against the fabric, everything changed.
The man's hand shot out with unnatural speed, grabbing the boy's wrist in a grip of iron. The boy's eyes widened in shock he had never been caught this easily before. Panic flared in his chest, but he forced it down, his mind racing for a way out. He twisted sharply, trying to break free from the man's grasp, but the man's strength was overwhelming.
"Trying to steal from me, are you?" The man's voice was calm, almost amused, but there was a dangerous edge to it that sent a chill down the boy's spine. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."
The boy didn't respond. Instead, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. He had been in situations like this before, and he knew panic would only make things worse. He could still get out of this he just needed to act fast.
Without warning, the boy twisted sharply, using the momentum to try and break free from the man's grip. At the same time, he brought his knee up, aiming for the man's stomach, hoping to catch him off guard and make a break for it.
But the man was faster. He sidestepped the boy's attack with ease, his grip never loosening. Before the boy could react, the man chanted, "Bind and still," his voice low and cold, but they held a power that made the boy's skin crawl.
In an instant, the boy's body went rigid, frozen in place by some unseen force. He tried to move, to fight back, but it was like his muscles had turned to stone. His mind raced, searching for a way out, but his body refused to obey.
The man's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he watched the boy struggle. "You thought you could get away, didn't you?" he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "But you're not going anywhere."
The boy's heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. He had been in tight spots before, and he knew that showing fear would only make things worse. He had to think, to find a way to turn the situation to his advantage. Even as the man's power held him in place, the boy's mind was already working, analyzing every detail, searching for a weakness.
The man's smirk faltered when he saw the boy's lack of fear. He had expected panic, pleading, perhaps even tears, but the boy's eyes were cold and calculating, devoid of the terror he usually inspired in his victims. It was as if the boy had faced this kind of situation before and won.
Annoyed, the man picked up the paralyzed body of the boy on his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. The boy didn't resist; not like he could resist his body couldn't even move a finger. He knew better than to waste his energy. Instead, he focused on his situation. His mind was running on full he had been in fights with many people with superpowers before, even tho he was never there opponent he was able to stay alive every time but it was the first time with someone as strong as this man.
The man led him to a deserted part of the city. No one stopped him on the street because no one cared to help anyone for free.There were many people looking at the man suspiciously, but looking at his scary face, no one stepped in. Then, he led the boy to where the buildings were old and crumbling, their windows dark and empty. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the only sound was the distant drip of water from a broken pipe. The man stopped in front of an old, abandoned building and pushed the boy inside, slamming the door behind them.
The boy's pulse quickened as the man began to chant again, this time louder, the words echoing off the walls. "Silent veil." The air around them seemed to thicken, pressing in on the boy from all sides. A strange, oppressive silence fell over the room, muting even the sound of his own breathing. He realized with a sinking feeling that whatever the man was doing, it was meant to.
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