The cold wind howled through the cracks in the orphanage's thin walls, rattling the wooden shutters like they might break loose any moment.

Kael Virel sat in his bed, the thin blanket offering little warmth against the creeping chill. His legs, lifeless from the waist down, lay motionless beneath him, a constant reminder of the life that had been stolen from him.

The accident that took his parents and left him paralyzed had long passed, but the memory still weighed heavy on his heart.

Today was supposed to be different, though. Today was the Awakening Ceremony. He had waited for this day his entire life—the day he would finally be granted a talent.

Every child, when they turned fifteen, was given a chance to awaken their 'Origin Root,' the source of their power in this shattered world. Some received weak talents, enough to scrape by. Others, the lucky few, would be bestowed with power so great they could rival the monsters that now ruled the Earth.

Kael's fingers trembled slightly as he gazed out the narrow window, watching the children his age running through the dusty streets, laughing and full of excitement.

Unlike him, they could walk, they could run. A sharp pang of jealousy gripped his chest, but he shook it off. Soon, none of that would matter. The Awakening could change everything.

He glanced down at the rat nibbling at a piece of bread near his bed. It had been his only companion over the last few months, sneaking into his room, stealing scraps of food until, eventually, it stayed. In a way, Kael felt connected to the creature. Both of them were beings in the shadows— overlooked and casted out.

The door to his room swung open, slamming against the wall. The matron stood in the doorway, her sharp eyes fixed on him.

"Come on, boy," she snapped. "You're not getting out of this one just because you can't walk."

Kael bit back a retort and nodded. His fingers gripped the rough wooden edges of the chair he used to drag himself around the orphanage, his body sliding out of the bed and into the worn seat.

The chair creaked under his weight, the wood splintering slightly from age. He began the slow, agonizing task of pulling himself out of the room and into the hall. The ceremony was taking place in the town square, and today, every orphanage child over fifteen was expected to attend.

The streets were filled with whispers of anticipation as Kael maneuvered his way through the crowd. He kept his head down, ignoring the stares and the occasional sneer from the others. Some of the children, already awakened, watched with disdain, their talents marking them as superior in this cutthroat world.

Kael wheeled himself into the square, the platform in the center looming like an altar. One by one, the children were called forward to stand before the crystal that would determine their fate.

As each child touched it, the air shimmered, their talents manifesting in vibrant displays of light and energy.

"Next! Kael Virel!"

Kael's heart raced as he pushed himself forward, the weight of a thousand dreams hanging on this single moment. He reached the crystal, his fingers trembling as he touched its cold surface. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a surge of energy flooded through him, the sensation so intense that his vision blurred.

Light exploded from the crystal, swirling in shades of gold and silver. The crowd gasped. This was no ordinary talent.

The priest, who stood by the crystal, leaned forward, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"This gold color... a talent with extraordinary potential!" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Kael's heart leaped. Extraordinary? It sounded... powerful, beyond anything he had hoped for. Maybe his life would change after all.

But then, the priest's face darkened. He placed a hand on Kael's shoulder, his expression grim.

"However.... "

"Your Origin Root... it's damaged. This means that your growth is stunted... I'm sorry young man..."

The words hit Kael like a blow to the chest, knocking the air from his lungs. He stared at the priest, uncomprehending.

Damaged? How could that be? He had a talent with extraordinary potential but... stunted?

The priest shook his head, his voice somber as he unconsciously whispered a remark, in which Kael heard

"A wasted potential. What a shame..."

The priest then gave Kael a crystal, one that he gave to every child that awakened their talent, containing the information about their talent to which only the children themselves can see.

Kael's fingers dug into the wooden arms of his chair as he received the crystal. The whispers from the crowd swirled around him—mockery, pity, indifference. The hope that had filled his heart moments ago crumbled to ash.

He was nothing.

Not even his talent could save him now.