Eiden trudged back toward his dorm after a long, exhausting day of lectures. His feet dragged across the pavement as he went over the mental list of classes he'd endured so far.
"Power Dynamics 101," he muttered. "Useless for someone like me."
"Gift Theory In Combat"—yeah, because that was ever going to apply to him.
"The Ethics Of Gift Use"? Surprisingly insightful, though most of the Gifted students seemed to treat it as a joke.
And finally, "Comparative Societal Structure." That one had been the real gem of the day, with debates that actually made him think.
"Three strikes, one hit," he said under his breath. "Not bad, I guess."
As he neared the dormitories, he slowed down, spotting a commotion up ahead. A group of Gifted students stood in a loose circle, their loud voices echoing off the walls of the narrow courtyard.
Eiden's chest tightened as he realized what was happening. One group—smaller and clearly outmatched—was being mercilessly beaten by another. The weaker group's leader, a wiry guy with messy black hair and a determined scowl, was in the worst shape. Deep cuts and angry bruises marked his face and arms, and his right arm dangled uselessly at his side.
The stronger group's leader, a broad-shouldered guy with spiky blond hair and cruel amber eyes, stepped forward with a smirk. His Gift was evident: veins of golden light pulsed along his forearms, the faint crackle of energy surrounding him.
Eiden clenched his fists and lowered his gaze, trying to ignore the scene.
This isn't your problem, he told himself. Keep your head down. Walk past. You don't even have a Gift—you'll only make things worse. Besides, it's nit like anyone would help you if the roles were reversedd.
He edged closer to the sidewalk, willing his feet to keep moving. But every time one of the stronger group's punches landed, his chest tightened further.
Not your fight. You dont even know them. You'll just get hurt for nothing, he thought desperately.
Then it happened. The blond leader of the stronger group reared back and delivered a brutal punch to the smaller leader's chest, slamming him into the wall with a sickening crack. Dust and bits of debris flew everywhere as the weaker leader crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Eiden froze, his stomach twisting.
The blond leader sneered down at his fallen opponent, hurling insults at the group. "Weaklings like you shouldn't even bother showing up here. You're a disgrace to the Gifted."
The other members of the weaker group flinched under his words, none of them daring to move.
The blond leader stepped closer, raising his foot. He was aiming to stomp on the unconscious boy's face.
Eiden's mind screamed at him to keep walking, to ignore it, to stay safe. But his body moved before his brain could stop it.
With a frustrated growl, he hurled his bag with every ounce of strength he had.
The bag sailed through the air and struck the blond leader square in the side of his waist, causing him to stumble slightly. The impact wasn't much—it wouldn't have been enough to faze most Gifted—but it was enough to draw everyone's attention.
The courtyard fell silent.
The stronger group turned to stare at Eiden, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief. Even the weaker group looked stunned, their gazes darting between him and the blond leader.
Eiden stood there, frozen, his hand still outstretched from the throw. His mind raced.
What did I just do?
The blond leader straightened, his amber eyes locking onto Eiden with a dangerous glint. He took a slow step forward, brushing the dust off his jacket.
"Well," he said, his voice calm but laced with menace. "What do we have here?"
Eiden inwardly cursed himself. Good job, idiot. You couldn't have just mind your business, could you? Nope. Now your the center of attention in a death scenario.
The blond leader smirked, cracking his knuckles as he approached. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But I think you need a reminder of your place."
Eiden raised his hands defensively, glancing around for an escape route. But before he could move, the weaker group's remaining members scrambled to their feet and stepped forward, placing themselves between Eiden and the blond leader.
"Back off, Blake!" one of them snapped, a petite girl with short silver hair and glowing green eyes. Her Gift flared to life, green tendrils of energy wrapping around her arms.
Blake frowned, glancing between her and Eiden. "You're really going to protect him? This Ungifted wimp?"
The girl didn't waver. "You've done enough. Leave him alone."
Blake's gaze flicked back to Eiden, and for a moment, it looked like he might press the issue. But then he shrugged, turning away with a mocking laugh. "Fine. He's not worth it anyway."
As Blake and his group walked off, Eiden let out a shaky breath, his heart pounding in his chest.
The girl turned to him, her glowing eyes narrowing. "What were you thinking?"
Eiden adjusted his glasses nervously. "Honestly? I wasn't."
She rolled her eyes but gave him a small nod. "Thanks for stepping in. Even if it was stupid."
Eiden managed a weak smile. "Glad to be of service."
As the weaker group carried their unconscious leader away, Eiden stood there, trying to process what had just happened.
First day and I'm already making enemies, he thought grimly. Yeah, this is great.