The morning sun cast mottled light and shadows through the classroom window, but the warmth could not dispel the chill in Nike's heart. He sat in the last row of the classroom, and the music in his headphones was turned up to the maximum, but he still couldn't stop the whispers around him.
"How dare he come to class?"
"Wasn't he ashamed to awaken to the dark system?"
"Such a person is simply a stain on the school."
Nike had a blank expression, and his blue eyes looked out the window, as if he turned a deaf ear to these words. However, his right hand on the desk was quietly clenched. His knuckles turned white, and the dark energy could be vaguely seen to fluctuate slightly.
The bell rang, and the students walked out of the classroom in groups, and no one approached his position. There was only one exception - class monitor Roy, a light awakener, the "star" of the school. He stopped in front of Nike's desk with a playful smile on his face: "Nike, I heard that you have been in the training ground these days? Do you want to make a name for yourself in the dark system?"
Nike raised his head, his eyes as cold as frost: "Go away."
Roy raised his hands exaggeratedly: "Don't be so indifferent, I'm just curious. Do you know how big the gap between light and darkness is? Let me teach you..." Before he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hands, and a bright ball of light condensed in his palm.
Nike stared at the ball of light without a trace of fluctuation in his eyes. He slowly stood up, and his height completely enveloped Roy in the shadow. He whispered: "You can try."
Roy's smile froze, and the man in front of him seemed to have turned into a lurking beast, with deadly danger hidden in his calmness. He finally snorted coldly and dispersed the ball of light: "Heh, garbage." After that, he turned and left.
Nike looked at Roy's back as he left, and the coldness on his face did not ease at all. He picked up his schoolbag and left the classroom.
Conversation at home
When Nike opened the door after returning home, his sister Ellie was squatting on the ground cleaning the graffiti on the wall. Those vicious words made people shudder: "Dark trash" "evil blood"... and there were several mud marks thrown over.
Ellie heard the door open and stood up hurriedly, forcing a smile on her face: "Brother, you are back."
Nike looked at her. His blonde and blue-eyed sister was only 16 years old, but she was isolated by her classmates because of his awakening. He took a few steps forward, picked up the rag, and began to wipe the wall silently.
"It's okay, they are just jealous of you." Ellie whispered, with a little comfort in her tone.
Nike stopped and turned to look at her: "Jealous? Jealous of a dark awakener?"
Ellie lowered her head, not daring to look into his eyes, her voice was almost inaudible: "But I think you are the strongest..."
Nike's expression eased a little, and he rubbed Ellie's hair: "Don't worry about them. I'll take you away from here."
Ellie raised her head, with doubts in her eyes: "Leave? Where are we going?"
Nike did not answer, but whispered: "A place that does not require their approval."
The decision to drop out of school
The next morning, Nike walked into the principal's office and put a withdrawal application on the table. The principal looked up at him with a cold expression: "Are you sure? As a dark awakener, staying here is your only chance."
Nike sneered: "The only chance? No, principal, I never need others to give me opportunities."
The principal shook his head and sighed: "I hope you don't regret it."
Nike said nothing more and turned to leave. When he walked out of the principal's office, his back was tall and lonely, but his eyes were full of determination.
Farewell before departure
At night, Nike and Ellie stood outside the east gate of the city. Ellie held a small luggage bag, with an uneasy look in her eyes: "Brother, are we really leaving? It's so dangerous outside the city..."
Nike hung an iron sword on his waist, his eyes firm: "The city is more dangerous. People here will never accept us."
"But... where can we go?" Ellie grabbed the luggage tightly, with a tremor in her voice.
Nike lowered his head and touched her shoulder: "Go to a place they dare not go. The wilderness is dangerous, but at least there, my power can decide everything."
Ellie looked at him, with dependence and reluctance in her eyes, but finally nodded: "Okay, I'll go with you."
Nike turned around and walked towards the darkness of the wilderness, and Ellie followed closely behind him. The city behind was brightly lit, but there was no light belonging to them anymore.
"From now on, light and darkness can only be controlled by me." Nike whispered, and his voice dissipated in the cold night wind.
Nike: 18 years old, blonde, blue eyes, 186cm tall, handsome and cold, strong and stubborn. A natural solipsist, she believes in her own choices and abilities.
• Ellie: 16 years old, Nike's sister, blonde, blue eyes, innocent, kind but forbearing. Although she has not awakened any talents, she supports her brother in her own way.
• Sophia: 20 years old, a light ability user, strong personality but sensitive heart, tired of the prejudice within the light system, and her cooperation with Nike made her re-understand the so-called "justice".