"You're what in the trash again?" Mrs. Calloway, the old lady next door, leaned over her fence, squinting at Andy like he'd just announced he was building a rocket to the moon.
"Not in the trash," he said, holding up a cracked mana stone he'd just dug out. "I'm searching the trash. There's a difference."
Mrs. Calloway raised an eyebrow. "Kid, you're fifteen. Shouldn't you be out… I don't know, playing sports? Chasing girls? Not rummaging through garbage like a raccoon?"
He shrugged. "Sports are overrated. And girls? Nah. Too much drama. This—" he held up the mana stone, "—is way more interesting."
Mrs. Calloway shook her head, muttering something about "kids these days" as she shuffled back inside. Andy grinned. He liked Mrs. Calloway. She was nosy, but she didn't judge him. Not like everyone else.
---
The mana stone was a bust. Cracked and drained, it was useless for anything but a paperweight. He tossed it back into the trash and kept digging. The junkyard was his favorite place—well, the only place he could go without getting weird looks. Here, no one cared if he was a Null. Here, he was just another scavenger.
He found a few useful things—a broken circuit board, some copper wire, and a half-melted battery. Not exactly treasure, but it was something. He stuffed them into his backpack and headed home.
---
His apartment was small and cluttered, but it was his. His parents left it to him when they died, and he'd turned it into his own personal workshop. The living room was filled with half-finished projects—a disassembled toaster, a pile of old radios, and a makeshift workbench covered in tools and scraps.
He dumped his haul on the table and sat down, pulling out a notebook. The pages were filled with sketches and notes—ideas for gadgets, designs for machines, and scribbled theories about mana. He flipped to a blank page and started drawing.
He wasn't sure what he was building yet, but he had an idea. If he couldn't use mana like the Gifted, maybe he could find a way to harness it indirectly. Mana stones were the key—they were crystallized mana, after all. If he could figure out how to extract the energy from them, he could power his own devices. It was a long shot, but it was all he had.
---
The next day, he skipped school. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. He had more important things to do than sit in a classroom and listen to Kael's taunts. Instead, he headed to the black market.
The black market was hidden in the Slums, a maze of narrow alleys and crumbling buildings. It was dangerous, especially for a kid like him, but he didn't have a choice. He needed mana stones, and this was the only place to get them without drawing too much attention.
He kept his hood up and his head down as he navigated the crowded streets. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and sweat, and the sounds of shouting and bartering filled his ears. He moved quickly, avoiding eye contact with anyone who looked too suspicious.
Finally, he found what he was looking for—a small stall tucked away in a corner. The vendor was a grizzled old man with a scar running down his cheek. He looked up as Andy approached, his eyes narrowing.
"What do you want, kid?" he growled.
He hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a wad of crumpled bills. "Mana stones. Got any?"
The man raised an eyebrow. "Mana stones, huh? What's a Null like you want with those?"
He clenched his fists but kept his voice steady. "That's my business. You selling or not?"
The man chuckled, a low, raspy sound. "Alright, kid. I've got a few. But they ain't cheap."
He reached under the counter and pulled out a small pouch, opening it to reveal a handful of mana stones. They were small and dull, but they were intact. Andy's eyes lit up.
"How much?" he asked, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice.
The man named a price that made Andy's stomach drop. "That's... a bit steep," he said, forcing a casual tone. "I've got—" He counted the bills quickly, holding them out. "This much."
The man snorted. "That's not even half, kid. You wasting my time?"
His mind raced.
He couldn't afford to walk away, but he also couldn't afford to pay the man's price. "Look, I'm good for it. I just need a couple of stones. I'll pay you back—with interest."
The man studied him for a long moment, his eyes boring into Andy's like he was trying to see through him. "You're desperate, ain't you?" he said finally. "I can see it in your eyes. You're one of those dreamers, thinking you can change the world with a handful of rocks." He shook his head, but there was a hint of something in his voice—amusement? Pity? Andy couldn't tell.
"I'm not dreaming," he said, his voice firm now. "I'm building."
The man chuckled again, but this time it was softer, almost... approving. "Alright, kid. I'll give you two stones for what you've got. But don't come crying to me when you blow yourself up."
Andy nodded, relief flooding through him. "Deal."
---
Back at his apartment, he got to work. He cleared a space on his workbench and laid out the mana stones, along with the other parts he'd scavenged. He didn't have a clear plan yet, but he had an idea. If he could build a device that could extract the mana from the stones and convert it into usable energy, he could power his own gadgets. It was a long shot, but so what.
He spent hours tinkering, trying different configurations and testing different circuits. It was frustrating work, and he had more failures than successes, but he didn't give up. He couldn't. This was his only chance.
---
By the time the sun went down, he had something that looked vaguely like a device. It was crude and messy, but it was a start. He connected it to one of the mana stones and held his breath as he flipped the switch.
Nothing happened.
He frowned, checking the connections and adjusting the settings. Still nothing. He tried again, and again, but the device remained stubbornly silent.
"Come on," he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. "Work, damn it."
He was about to give up when he noticed something—a faint glow coming from the mana stone. It was barely visible, but it was there. His heart skipped a beat as he leaned in closer, watching as the glow grew brighter.
"Yes," he whispered, a grin spreading across his face. "Yes!"
The glow flickered for a moment, then faded away. The device sputtered and died, but he didn't care. He'd done it. He'd actually done it. It wasn't much, but it was proof that his idea could work.
---
He spent the rest of the night working on the device, making more adjustments and testing different configurations. When the time the sun came up, he was exhausted, but he had something that worked—sort of. It was still unstable and unreliable, but it was a start.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the device with a mixture of pride and exhaustion. It wasn't much, but it was his. He'd built it with his own hands, using nothing but scraps and determination. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he had a chance.
---
The next few days were a blur of work and experimentation. He skipped school again, spending every waking moment in his apartment, tinkering with the device. He made progress, but it was slow and frustrating. The device was still unstable, and he burned through his meager supply of mana stones faster than he'd expected.
He needed more stones, but he didn't have the money to buy them. That left him with only one option—stealing.
---
The black market was even more dangerous at night, but he didn't have a choice. He waited until the streets were mostly empty, then made his way to the same stall he'd visited before. The vendor was gone, but the stall was still there, locked up and covered with a tarp.
He looked around to make sure no one was watching, then slipped behind the stall. The lock was old and rusty, and it didn't take much effort to break it. He pulled back the tarp and started searching through the crates and boxes, looking for mana stones.
He found a small stash hidden in a crate under the counter. There were only a few, but it was enough. He stuffed them into his bag and was about to leave when he heard a voice behind him.
"What do you think you're doing, kid?"
He froze, his heart pounding in his chest. Slowly, he turned around to see the vendor standing there, a knife in his hand.
"I… I was just…" He stammered, his mind racing.
The man's eyes narrowed. "You were just stealing from me, is what you were doing. You've got some nerve, kid."
He backed away, his hands up. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"Save it," the man growled, stepping closer. "You're gonna pay for this, one way or another."
Andy's eyes darted around, looking for a way out. The man was blocking the only exit, and he was holding a knife.
He was trapped.
But then he remembered the device in his bag. It was still unstable, but it was his only chance. He reached into the bag and pulled it out, holding it in front of him like a weapon.
"Stay back," he warned, his voice shaking.
The man laughed. "What's that supposed to be? Some kind of toy?"
He didn't answer.
He quickly put a mana stone inside and flipped the switch, and the device hummed to life. The mana stone inside glowed faintly, and he could feel the energy building up.
The man's eyes widened. "What the—"
Before he could finish, Andy pointed the device at him and released the energy. There was a flash of light, and the man was thrown back, hitting the wall with a grunt.
Andy didn't wait to see if he was okay. He turned and ran, clutching the bag to his chest. He didn't stop until he was back in his apartment, his heart still racing.
He collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily. His hands were shaking, and his mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, guilt, and a strange sense of triumph. He'd done it. He'd actually done it.
But at what cost?
He looked down at the device in his hands. It was still glowing faintly, the mana stone inside almost drained. It was powerful, but it was dangerous. He'd just attacked someone with it. What did that make him?
He didn't know. But he did know one thing—he couldn't stop now. He'd crossed a line, and there was no going back.
---
The next morning, he woke up early. He had a lot of work to do. The device was still unstable, and he needed to improve it. He also needed more mana stones, which meant more trips to the black market. It was risky, but he didn't have a choice.
He sat down at his workbench and got to work. As he tinkered, his mind wandered back to the man in the black market. He'd attacked him. He'd actually attacked him. It was self-defense, but still… it was a line he'd never thought he'd cross.
But he had. And he knew he'd do it again if he had to.
---
Over the next few weeks, he continued to improve the device. It was still far from perfect, but it was getting better. He also started experimenting with other gadgets, using the mana stones to power them. It was slow, painstaking work, but he was making progress.
He also started venturing out more, using the device to defend himself when necessary. He didn't like it, but he didn't have a choice. The world was a dangerous place, especially for a Null like him.
---
One night, as he was working on a new gadget, he heard a knock at the door. He froze, his heart racing. He wasn't expecting anyone, and he didn't have many visitors.
He grabbed the device and crept to the door, peering through the peephole. It was Mrs. Calloway.
He sighed in relief and opened the door. "Mrs. Calloway? What are you doing here?"
She held up a plate of cookies. "I thought you could use some company. You've been holed up in here for weeks. What are you working on, anyway?"
He hesitated, then stepped aside to let her in. "Just… stuff."
She raised an eyebrow as she looked around the cluttered apartment. "Stuff, huh? Looks like you're building a spaceship."
He chuckled. "Something like that."
She set the cookies down on the table and sat down, watching as he went back to work. "You know, kid, you're a mystery. Most kids your age are out causing trouble, and here you are, building… whatever this is."
He shrugged. "I'm not like most kids."
She nodded. "That's for sure. But you're gonna burn yourself out if you keep this up. You need to take a break once in a while."
He didn't answer. He knew she was right, but he couldn't stop. Not now. Not when he was so close.
She leaned forward, her voice softer now. "You know, you can talk to me if something's bothering you. You don't have to carry it all by yourself."
He paused, his hands hovering over the device. "It's not that simple."
"Try me," she said, folding her arms. "I've been around the block a few times. Might surprise you."
He glanced at her, then back at the gadget. "It's just… I have to get this right. If I don't, it's all for nothing."
She tilted her head. "All for nothing? That's a lot of pressure to put on yourself. What's this thing supposed to do, anyway?"
He hesitated, then sighed. "It's… complicated. But if it works, it could change things. For me... and you."
Mrs. Calloway studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright. I won't pry. But promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Take a break, eat a cookie and talk to someone. You're not a machine, kid."
He managed a small smile. "I'll think about it."
She stood up, patting his shoulder. "Good. And don't forget to sleep. You look like you haven't seen a bed in days."
"I'll sleep when it's done," he said, half to himself.
She shook her head as she walked to the door. "Stubborn as always. Don't make me come back here with a frying pan."
He laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."
---
After she left, he sat down and ate a cookie, staring at the device in his hands. It was getting better, but it still wasn't enough. He needed more. More power, more knowledge, more everything.
He didn't know where this path would lead him, but he knew one thing—he wasn't going to stop. Not until he had the power to change everything.
And he was willing to do whatever it took to get there.