The gymnasium of Hawthorn High hummed with the anticipation of the students, their excited chatter echoing against the high ceilings. Etherion combat activities were always a highlight—or a source of dread, depending on where one stood on the spectrum of skill. Today was no exception. Streams of light from the Etherion conduits lining the walls cast a faint glow on the polished floor, illuminating a space that was both intimidating and thrilling.

Victor stood off to the side, his arms crossed as he surveyed the scene. Around him, students paired up with friends or those they thought would give them the best chance to win. There was a buzz of energy in the air, fueled by the display of affinities sparking to life: a flicker of fire here, a faint gust of wind there. Victor’s stomach knotted, though he kept his expression neutral. This was the part of the day he dreaded the most.

“Alright, listen up!” Mr. Hollis, the gym teacher, barked from the center of the gym. His deep voice carried easily across the room. A broad-shouldered man with graying hair, Hollis radiated authority. “Today’s activity is a two-on-two Etherion combat exercise. The goal is simple: push your opponents out of the circle using your affinity or strategy. No excessive roughness. Got it?”

A murmur of assent rippled through the room.

“Good. Choose your partner and get ready.”

As the students began pairing off, Victor hesitated, his gaze darting around the room. He hadn’t made enough friends to have an obvious partner, and the few students who glanced his way quickly turned back to their groups. He sighed quietly, already feeling the familiar weight of exclusion.

Before he could linger on the thought, a voice broke through the noise.

“Hey, genius.” Nate strolled up, his usual cocky grin in place. He gestured toward the forming pairs with a lazy shrug. “Looks like we’re teaming up.”

Victor blinked, caught off guard. “Are you sure? Wouldn’t someone else—”

“Be better? Nah.” Nate cut him off with a wave of his hand. “You’ve got brains, I’ve got... well, me. Perfect combo.

Victor hesitated, but Nate’s grin was infectious. “Alright,” he said. “Let’s do this.”

The two of them stepped into the forming lines, waiting for their turn. Around them, whispers began to rise as word spread. Victor had been in the school for just a few days, and already rumors swirled about his supposed affinity. The word “Water” floated through the crowd, and Victor felt a sinking weight in his chest. He had told a harmless lie on his first day, trying to avoid awkward questions, but now it felt like a noose tightening around him.

“He doesn’t look like much,” someone muttered. “Bet Nate’s carrying him.”

Victor’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Nate, however, turned his head slightly, his smirk widening.

“Y’all must have missed the memo,” Nate called over his shoulder. “This guy’s a prodigy. He’ll mop the floor with you if you’re not careful.”

The murmurs died down, though Victor felt a fresh wave of anxiety. The moment someone asked him to actually use his “affinity,” everything would unravel.

When it was their turn, Victor and Nate stepped into the glowing circle at the center of the gym. Opposite them stood two boys—one with an affinity for Fire and the other for Stone. Both wore confident smirks, already flexing their powers in preparation.

“Ready?” Mr. Hollis called, stepping back. “Begin!”

The Fire user moved first, a jet of flame erupting from his palm and streaking toward Nate. Nate dodged effortlessly, shadows flickering around him as he grinned.

“Nice try,” Nate said, darting to the side. He countered with his Shadow affinity, casting a wave of darkness that momentarily obscured the Fire user’s vision.

Victor, meanwhile, faced the Stone user. The boy stomped the ground, causing a ripple of rock to surge toward him. Victor leapt back, narrowly avoiding the jagged edges. His mind raced. He couldn’t rely on an affinity to fight back, but he had something else—his intellect.

“Split them up!” Victor shouted to Nate. “Keep the Fire guy occupied.

“On it!” Nate called back, lunging toward the Fire user with a playful smirk.

Victor focused on the Stone user, feinting left before cutting right. The boy swung his rock-covered fist, but Victor was already moving, his movements precise and calculated. He used the terrain to his advantage, staying just out of reach while keeping the Stone user’s focus on him.

Meanwhile, Nate toyed with the Fire user, his Shadow affinity creating small bursts of confusion and distraction. “C’mon, you can do better than that!” Nate taunted, easily dodging a wave of flame.

Within minutes, the Fire user stumbled out of the circle, his frustration boiling over. Victor seized the opportunity to feint again, baiting the Stone user into overextending. With one misstep, the boy lost his balance, tumbling out of bounds.

“Winner: Victor and Nate!” Mr. Hollis announced

Applause rippled through the gym, though it was laced with surprise. Victor caught snippets of the murmurs: “Didn’t even use his affinity,” and “Guess he’s smarter than he looks.” He let out a quiet breath of relief, grateful that no one had called him out.

Nate threw an arm around Victor’s shoulders, grinning. “Told you we’re unstoppable.

Victor offered a small smile, though his thoughts churned with unease. He had narrowly avoided exposure this time, but he knew it wouldn’t last forever.

The gymnasium buzzed with excitement as the next round was called. Victor and Nate, still riding high from their first win, stood in the glowing circle once more. Across from them, their next opponents stepped forward: a girl with a Wind affinity, her hair rippling as if caught in an invisible breeze, and a boy whose hands crackled with Electricity, small arcs of lightning snapping between his fingers. Both looked confident, their eyes sizing up Victor and Nate.

“Alright, next round!” Mr. Hollis shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. “Victor and Nate versus Addison and Liam. Begin!”

Victor tensed, his heart pounding as he assessed the situation. He wasn’t sure how long he could keep up the facade. Addison and Liam were no slouches; their affinities were complementary and far more aggressive than their last opponents’. He couldn’t rely on misdirection alone this time.

As expected, Liam made the first move, sending a bolt of lightning streaking toward Nate. Nate dodged, but not as smoothly as before. The Shadow user countered with a swirl of darkness that momentarily obscured Liam’s vision, but Addison was already on the attack, her Wind affinity whipping up a gust that sent Nate staggering.

“Focus on the Wind girl!” Victor called, trying to direct Nate’s attention. He had to stay in control, to keep them from realizing his secret.

But Addison and Liam were too well-coordinated. While Nate grappled with Addison’s relentless winds, Liam turned his attention to Victor. A crackling bolt of lightning shot toward him, forcing Victor to dive out of the way. The crowd around the gym cheered, their energy feeding the intensity of the match.

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“Victor!” Nate’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding. “What are you doing? Use your Water affinity!”

Victor froze for a split second, the weight of the lie crushing down on him. Liam capitalized on his hesitation, sending another bolt of electricity racing toward him. He barely dodged, his movements clumsy and strained. The crowd murmured, sensing something was wrong.

“Victor!” Nate yelled again, frustration creeping into his voice as he tried to fend off both opponents. “What are you waiting for? Use it!”

Victor’s heart sank. He couldn’t keep the lie going, not under this kind of pressure. His fists clenched at his sides as he dodged another attack, his mind racing for a way out. The murmurs around the gym grew louder, curious whispers spreading like wildfire.

“Is he not using it on purpose?”

“Maybe he’s holding back.”

“Or maybe…”

Liam smirked, catching on. “He’s got nothing,” he taunted, sending another bolt toward Victor. “Doesn’t he?”

Victor’s silence was deafening. Nate, distracted by the taunts, faltered just enough for Addison to knock him off balance with a powerful gust. He stumbled but caught himself, his eyes snapping to Victor with confusion and growing anger.

“Victor,” Nate shouted, his voice raw now. “Do something! Show them what you’ve got!”

“I can’t!” The words tore out of Victor before he could stop them, raw and desperate. His voice echoed across the gym, silencing the crowd. For a moment, everything seemed to stop. Even Liam and Addison hesitated, their attacks faltering mid-strike.

“What?” Nate’s voice was barely above a whisper, the confusion and betrayal clear in his expression.

“I don’t have an affinity,” Victor said, his tone flat, though his chest felt like it might collapse under the weight of those words. He stood there, exposed and vulnerable, as the crowd erupted into murmurs.

“No way…”

“Is he serious?”

“He’s got nothing?”

The realization rippled through the gym like a shockwave, and Victor felt every set of eyes on him. His worst fear was now a reality.

“You lied?” Nate’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and hurt. “You told me you had a Water affinity!”

“I didn’t know what else to say!” Victor snapped back, his voice rising as frustration and shame boiled over. “If I told the truth, you’d all write me off before I even got a chance!”

“Write you off?” Nate echoed, his tone laced with disbelief. “Victor, I was on your side—”

“Enough!” Mr. Hollis’s booming voice silenced the growing chaos. He stepped forward, his sharp gaze darting between Victor and Nate. “That’s enough out of both of you. Match is over.”

Victor slumped onto the bench, his body aching not from the fight but from the weight of what had just happened. The gym was still buzzing with energy, the matches continuing as if his world hadn’t just been upended. He stared at the floor, avoiding the glances and whispers around him.

Nate approached him, his footsteps slower than usual. He stopped in front of Victor, crossing his arms as his shadow stretched long against the gymnasium floor.

“You lied to me,” Nate said, his voice low but without the sharpness Victor expected. “Why?”

Victor’s throat tightened, and he forced himself to look up at his friend. Nate’s usual easygoing expression was gone, replaced with something quieter, more serious. “I didn’t know how to tell you,” Victor admitted. “I’ve dealt with this my whole life. People treat me like I’m broken because I don’t have an affinity. I just… I wanted to belong.”

Nate’s gaze softened, though his lips pressed into a thin line. “You didn’t have to lie. You think I care whether you can spit fire or bend water? Man, I’ve seen what you can do without one. You’re faster and smarter than half these people combined.”

Victor didn’t reply, but the knot in his chest loosened slightly. The relief was short-lived, though, as a voice called out from the sidelines.

“Hey, Campbell!” It was Zeke, his smirk unmistakable even across the gym. “No wonder you’re such a lightweight. All that talk and you’ve got nothing? You might as well quit now.”

The insult landed like a rock tossed into still water, rippling through the crowd. Laughter erupted from Zeke’s group of cronies, and a few other students joined in, emboldened by the moment.

“Yeah, what’s the point of even trying if you’re just some normie?” another student added, snickering.

Victor clenched his fists, his face burning with shame. He wanted to fire back, but the words caught in his throat. He wasn’t sure if anything he said would matter.

“Hey, lay off,” Nate said, his voice cutting through the noise. He stepped forward, putting himself between Victor and the rest of the gym. His usual casual demeanor melted away, replaced by a cold, almost dangerous edge. “You got something to say, Zeke?”

Zeke leaned back against the wall, his smirk widening. “Just telling the truth. Thought he’d at least have the guts to back up all that big talk.”

“Big talk? You mean the part where he beat you on the math test last week or the part where he actually knows how to dodge?” Nate shot back, his voice sharp with uncharacteristic venom.

The laughter died down as Zeke’s smug expression faltered for a moment, his jaw tightening. “Watch your mouth, Carter. Don’t think your little shadow tricks make you untouchable.”

“And I don’t think your windbag ego makes you interesting,” Nate said, stepping closer. “But here we are.”

The gym fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Nate’s presence, usually easygoing and light, had shifted into something solid, commanding. The students watching from the sidelines exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how far things would go.

Zeke stared at Nate for a moment before scoffing and turning away. “Whatever. I’m not wasting my time with this.”

As Zeke and his cronies retreated, the tension in the gym began to dissipate. Nate turned back to Victor, his shoulders relaxing slightly as the sharpness in his expression faded.

“You don’t need an affinity to be worth something,” Nate said, his voice quieter now. “And you don’t need one to shut people like him up.”

Victor managed a faint smile, the weight of the moment easing slightly. “Thanks,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Nate grinned, his usual humor returning as he clapped Victor on the shoulder. “Don’t mention it. But you owe me a drink or something. That was exhausting.”

Victor laughed despite himself, the knot in his chest loosening a little more. For the first time since the match, he felt like he could breathe again.

As the echoes of Nate’s words settled over the gymnasium, the teacher’s whistle pierced the tension, silencing the scattered murmurs. Coach Lawrence, a tall, broad-shouldered man whose booming voice could command an army, strode forward with purpose. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd before landing squarely on Victor.

“Campbell!” he barked, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Come with me. Now.”

Victor glanced at Nate, whose expression had shifted from defiance to curiosity, and then at Rhea, who raised a concerned eyebrow. He gave them a small, reassuring nod before following Coach Lawrence toward the far end of the gym.

The walk felt heavier than it should have. Each step seemed to magnify the weight of the stares boring into Victor’s back, the whispers now softer but no less potent. By the time they reached the corner office, the door clicked shut behind them, sealing the two of them in the small, utilitarian space.

Coach Lawrence leaned against the edge of his desk, arms crossed, his piercing gaze locked on Victor. “Alright, Campbell. You want to tell me what’s really going on?”

Victor blinked, confused. “Sir?”

“Don’t ‘sir’ me,” Coach Lawrence snapped, his tone bordering on irritation. “I’ve been teaching Etherion students for over a decade. I’ve seen every kind of trick, bluff, and ‘mysterious prodigy’ there is. You’re telling me you took down someone like Zeke Alaric, and you don’t have an affinity? You expect me to believe that?”

Victor’s jaw tightened, his hands instinctively balling into fists at his sides. “It’s the truth,” he said, his voice steady despite the storm swirling inside him. “I don’t have an affinity.”

“Bull.” The word was sharp, almost dismissive. “You’ve got some fancy power you’re hiding, and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s weak. Maybe you’re scared. But don’t stand there and lie to me.”

Victor’s chest tightened. The familiar burn of frustration and shame crawled up his throat, but he swallowed it down. “I’m not lying, Coach. I don’t have an affinity. I’ve never had one.”

Coach Lawrence studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he sighed, the anger ebbing slightly from his tone. “You’re a strong kid. That much is obvious. But strong doesn’t cut it in a world like this. If you’re trying to play some kind of angle, it’s not going to work. These Trials we’ve got coming up? They’re going to chew you up and spit you out if you’re not honest about what you can do.”

Victor straightened, meeting the coach’s gaze head-on. “I’m not hiding anything. I don’t need an affinity to prove myself.”

Coach Lawrence arched an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “You’re walking a dangerous line, Campbell. I hope, for your sake, that you know what you’re doing.”

With that, he pushed off the desk and opened the door, gesturing for Victor to leave. “Get back out there. And if I catch wind of you pulling stunts like this again, you and I are going to have a longer talk.”

Victor didn’t respond. He simply nodded, walking past the coach and out into the gym. The stares had dulled slightly, the focus shifting back to the next activity, but he could still feel the weight of a few lingering eyes.

As he rejoined Nate and Rhea, Nate immediately leaned closer, his usual grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “What’d he say? Did he accuse you of being some kind of secret agent?”

Victor gave a half-smile, shaking his head. “Something like that.”

Rhea narrowed her eyes, clearly sensing there was more to the conversation, but she didn’t press. Instead, she crossed her arms and glanced around the gym. “Come on. Let’s just get through this.”

As the three of them moved to the sidelines, Victor’s mind churned with the coach’s words. The doubt, the accusations—it wasn’t new. But this time, it stung more. The whispers in the gym seemed louder now, each one a reminder of the gap between him and everyone else.

But there was no turning back now. Victor clenched his fists, steeling himself. If the Trials were going to test him, he’d be ready. Affinity or not.