What defines a person's worth? Is it their abilities? Their strength? Or is it something deeper?
If you ask anyone in my world, they'll point to the eyes. "The eyes never lie," they say. But what if your eyes hold nothing? No power. No light. Just emptiness. What does that make you?
My name is Adrian Clarke. By this world's standards, I am worthless. Powerless. An anomaly.
In our society, children awaken their powers by the age of ten or eleven. For most, it's a moment of celebration—a rite of passage into a world filled with possibilities. But for the few like me, who fail to awaken anything, it's the start of a nightmare.
We are labeled "powerless." No fancy titles, no second chances. Just a single word that echoes in every hallway, every classroom, every whispered conversation: powerless.
The source of these powers lies in our eyes—a so-called "blessing" that manifests uniquely in each person. They say it's not tied to genetics, which means your power might be completely different from your parents. Fire, water, wind—those are the most common abilities. Then there are the Uncommon Class powers, like Mist and Ice. Rare Class powers, like Earth and Tornadoes, are even harder to find.
And then there's the Unique Class. Powers like Light and Dark. Only one person in the entire continent might wield a Unique Class ability. My best friends, Lucas and Nova, happen to be two of those rare individuals.
Lucas Hale, the golden boy. Quite literally. His power of Light Eyes is as rare as it is unnerving. When he activates his power, his eyes turn pure white, devoid of iris or pupil. Creepy? Sure. But when you see him on the field, darting past opponents like a beam of sunlight, you can't help but admire him. Lucas is a natural protector—a shield in human form.
Then there's Nova Cross. She's… a walking contradiction. Scatterbrained, impulsive, and as airheaded as they come. But beneath all that, she's terrifyingly strong. Her Dark Eyes make her look like a demon when she uses her powers, and honestly? She might just be one if you get on her bad side. Despite her petite frame and constant complaints about her chest size, she can lift boulders like they're playground toys.
And me? Well, I have nothing. No glowing eyes. No elemental control. No divine strength. Just a brain that's good at solving problems and a body that's good at attracting bullies.
Lucas and Nova have been my lifelines for as long as I can remember. Whenever the bullies came, they were there. Lucas, with his blazing confidence and unshakable resolve. Nova, with her unpredictable energy and fists of fury. Together, they made sure I could survive another day in a world that wanted to crush me.
But no matter how much they tried to protect me, there was always that gnawing thought in the back of my mind: Why them? Why not me?
The bell rings, snapping me out of my thoughts. Another day of school. Another day of pretending I belong in a world that's already left me behind.
This is my life.
For now, anyway.
The schoolyard buzzed with activity as students milled about, their eyes flickering with faint glimmers of power—an unspoken hierarchy laid bare with every spark, flame, or gust of wind. Adrian Clarke walked through the crowd, head down, his footsteps deliberate. He had long since learned to navigate these spaces with as little attention drawn to himself as possible.
But no amount of caution could make him invisible.
"Oi, Clarke!" a sharp voice rang out, cutting through the noise like a knife.
Adrian sighed inwardly. He knew that voice. Matthew Carver, a particularly mean-spirited boy with a penchant for tormenting the powerless.
Before Adrian could react, a hand grabbed his bag, yanking him backward. He stumbled, barely catching himself before hitting the ground.
"Where you off to in such a hurry, huh?" Matthew sneered, his cronies chuckling behind him.
Adrian straightened, his heart pounding but his face betraying no fear. He had learned that bullies fed off reactions. He calmly adjusted his bag strap and met Matthew's eyes.
"Just heading to class. You should consider doing the same," Adrian said, his voice steady.
The snickers turned into mock gasps. "Oh, hear that, boys? Clarke thinks he's smart!" Matthew shoved Adrian lightly, enough to unbalance him but not enough to make a scene. "You think brains matter when you've got no power? You're a nobody, Clarke."
Adrian clenched his fists but said nothing. He knew retaliating would only make things worse.
Before the situation could escalate further, a familiar voice cut in.
"Hey, Matt!"
Matthew froze, turning slowly to face Lucas Hale. Lucas strolled over, his signature easygoing grin plastered across his face. But his eyes—sharp and focused—made it clear he wasn't in the mood for games.
"Picking on Adrian again?" Lucas asked, his tone light but dangerous.
Matthew hesitated. Lucas wasn't just popular—he was untouchable. No one wanted to be on the wrong side of the guy who could blind you with a glance.
"Just messing around," Matthew muttered, backing off. "No need to get all heroic."
"That's what I thought." Lucas stepped between Adrian and the bullies, crossing his arms. "Now, unless you want Nova to hear about this..."
Matthew paled. Everyone at school knew better than to provoke Nova Cross. She had a reputation for dealing with bullies in… unconventional ways.
"Whatever," Matthew muttered, retreating with his cronies in tow.
Lucas turned to Adrian, his grin softening. "You good?"
Adrian nodded. "Thanks."
"Anytime."
Later that day, Adrian sat in the library, poring over a book on advanced mathematics. Numbers and patterns were his refuge—a place where logic ruled and emotions couldn't touch him.
But even in the quiet sanctuary of the library, trouble had a way of finding him.
A group of students whispered and giggled a few tables away, their glances darting toward Adrian. He ignored them, focusing on his work.
One of them—a girl with a smug expression—walked over and plucked the book from his desk.
"Still pretending to be smart, Clarke?" she teased, flipping through the pages.
Adrian's mind raced. Lucas and Nova weren't around this time, but he had his own ways of dealing with situations like this.
He leaned back, feigning nonchalance. "You should be careful with that. It's an advanced text. Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself trying to understand it."
Her smirk faltered as her friends laughed. Flustered, she slammed the book back onto the table and stormed off.
Adrian allowed himself a small smile. Words were his weapon, precision his shield. He didn't need powers to defend himself—at least, not always.
But as the day went on, the familiar weight of isolation settled over him. No matter how clever he was, how many bullies he outwitted, the reality remained: he was powerless in a world that valued strength above all else.
And no amount of logic could change that.