The sun dipped low in the sky, casting an orange hue over the training grounds of Sphere Academy. The scent of damp earth mingled with the fresh air, yet for Zeke, the day felt oppressively heavy, as if time itself pressed down on his chest. Around him, his classmates practiced their abilities, their laughter and shouts filling the air, but Zeke felt distant—separate.
The espers were out there. Lurking. Waiting. Every day they grew stronger, and every night, the nightmares returned. He clenched his fists at the thought, his pulse quickening with the familiar anger. They had taken everything from him—no, Chronos had taken everything. His family had been erased from existence, leaving only him, cursed with the god's sick gift of time manipulation.
"Zeke!" Luca's voice cut through his dark thoughts, pulling him back to reality. His best friend jogged over, a playful grin on his face. "You gonna stand there brooding all day or are you coming to practice?"
Zeke forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm coming," he replied, jogging over to meet him.
Luca's shadowy aura flickered as he summoned his power. "Ready to get your butt kicked?"
Zeke shrugged, masking his unease. "Just don't get cocky."
As they stepped into the training ring, Zeke felt a knot of anxiety twist in his gut. He could see the other students eyeing them, whispers passing between them. He had to keep up appearances—had to let them believe his power was simply teleportation. Easier that way. Less complicated.
In truth, his curse was far more dangerous. When Zeke closed his eyes, time itself stopped—but the cost was unpredictable. Every use of his ability felt like gambling with lives, and he couldn't afford to lose again. Not after what happened last time.
Luca lunged first, his figure a blur of shadows. Zeke sidestepped, his body reacting on instinct, but the familiar flicker of panic rose in him. He had to fight without his powers. He couldn't risk it. Throwing a quick jab, Zeke landed a hit on Luca's shoulder.
"Nice one!" Luca laughed, springing back into position. "But don't think I'm going easy on you."
Before Zeke could respond, Eliza approached the ring, her fiery red hair a beacon against the muted training grounds. Her presence always carried a certain gravity—calm, yet powerful. She crossed her arms, her expression half-amused.
"Are you two sparring, or is this some kind of warm-up?" she asked, her voice laced with challenge.
Zeke tensed slightly, feeling the weight of her gaze. "We're just—"
"How about we make this more interesting? A three-way match," she cut in, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Zeke hesitated. He wasn't sure he could handle both of them right now. "Uh, maybe—"
"Come on, Zeke!" Luca teased. "What's the matter? Afraid Eliza's gonna roast you?"
Eliza's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Don't be a chicken. Show me what you've got."
With a deep breath, Zeke nodded. "Alright. Let's do this."
They took their positions, tension buzzing in the air. The moment Eliza signaled the start, Luca disappeared into a swirl of shadows, while Eliza launched a quick volley of fire toward him. Zeke ducked and rolled, the heat of her flames grazing his skin.
"You almost got him!" Luca called out, his voice echoing from somewhere in the shadows.
Zeke's muscles tensed. He was already straining to keep up. Eliza moved like lightning, alternating between fire and ice, her attacks calculated and precise. Luca's movements were unpredictable, slipping in and out of the shadows, striking with playful jabs before retreating.
Zeke dodged another blast of fire, his heart pounding in his ears. Every instinct told him to close his eyes, to use his power and stop time—but the thought of what might happen if he lost control made his blood run cold.
Then it happened—one misstep. As Zeke turned to dodge Luca's strike, his foot caught on uneven ground. Time seemed to stretch, his body teetering on the edge of losing balance. He could feel the pull of his curse, the urge to shut his eyes, to freeze everything and control the chaos. His hand twitched toward his face, but he stopped himself. Not again. Not here.
He braced himself, rolling to the side as Eliza's flames surged past him, scorching the ground where he'd just been standing. The heat seared his arm, but he didn't flinch.
"Zeke!" Eliza called, concern flashing across her face. "You okay?"
"Yeah," he muttered, flexing his arm. The burn throbbed, but it wasn't the pain that gnawed at him. It was the frustration. The feeling of being trapped by his own power.
"You sure?" Luca appeared beside him, his usual grin replaced by something more serious.
Zeke forced a smile. "Just a scratch."
They continued sparring, but Zeke's mind was elsewhere. No matter how hard he tried, the fear of losing control never left him. It clung to him like a shadow, always lurking, always waiting for the moment he would slip.
When they finally called a break, Zeke leaned against the wall, his breath ragged. Luca bounded over, his energy still high despite the intensity of the match.
"You did great, man! You're getting faster," Luca said, clapping him on the back.
"Thanks," Zeke replied, though the praise felt hollow. Faster wasn't enough. Not when the espers were out there, destroying lives. Not when he could be the next one to lose control and hurt someone.
Eliza walked over, her eyes scanning him thoughtfully. "You've improved since last week," she said, though her gaze was more assessing than congratulatory. She could tell something was off, but she didn't push.
Before Zeke could respond, Mira appeared, her expression grim. "I need to talk to you all," she said, her voice low. "There's been another attack."
Zeke's stomach dropped. Mira was always calm, always in control, but the tension in her posture told him this was serious.
"What happened?" Eliza asked, stepping forward.
"A group of espers hit a village nearby," Mira continued. "It was brutal. We need to prepare."
A heavy silence fell over the group. Zeke felt the familiar coldness creep up his spine, the same feeling he always got when he thought about the espers. Innocent lives lost. Families destroyed. Just like his.
"Are we going to fight them?" Luca asked, his usual levity gone.
Mira nodded. "We'll need to move fast. Zeke," she added, turning to him, "your abilities could be crucial. But you need to gain better control."
Zeke swallowed, the weight of her words settling over him like a shroud. "I'll do whatever it takes," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I won't let anyone else get hurt."
Eliza nodded, her eyes burning with resolve. "Then let's train harder. We need to be ready for whatever's coming."
As the sun sank below the horizon, casting long shadows over Sphere, Zeke felt the fire of determination ignite in his chest. He wouldn't let his curse define him. He couldn't. The espers were coming, and he had to be ready.
No matter what it took, he would fight—for his friends, for the families torn apart by Chronos's chaos—and for himself. The clock was ticking, but this time, he wouldn't let time control him.