Nathaniel Kane hated bullies.

It wasn’t just a mild distaste or an aversion. No, it was a burning, visceral hatred that simmered in the pit of his stomach every time he saw someone pushing their weight around, thinking they could get away with it because they were stronger, or richer, or just plain meaner. He had spent most of his seventeen years on the streets, and if there was one thing that was constant in his life, it was that the weak always suffered at the hands of the powerful. Nathaniel wasn’t particularly strong, but he was fast, clever, and most importantly, unyielding.

He had learned early on that the only way to survive was to stay alert and never back down. His childhood was a blur of alleyways, makeshift shelters, and the occasional fleeting glimpse of a life he could barely imagine. His mother had disappeared when he was young, leaving him to fend for himself. His father was never around, a ghost in his memories, and the streets became his teacher.

Every day was a challenge. The alley behind Polk High School was a narrow, grimy strip of pavement that smelled of old garbage and damp brick. It was also where the school’s less desirable elements conducted their business away from the eyes of teachers and administrators. Nathaniel found himself there more often than he liked, not because he wanted trouble, but because trouble had a way of finding him.

Today, the alley was colder than usual, the air tinged with an early hint of winter. Nathaniel’s breath misted in front of him, and he pulled his jacket tighter around himself, not for warmth but out of habit. The sounds of the schoolyard faded as he approached the scene of trouble, the usual clamor replaced by an ominous silence.

“Let him go!” Nathaniel’s voice echoed off the walls, sharper than he intended. The three boys, all bigger and older than him, turned at the sound. One of them had a smaller kid pinned against the wall, his face flushed with the effort of trying to break free. Nathaniel recognized the kid—Timothy Swanson, a quiet freshman who kept to himself. The sight of Timothy’s wide, terrified eyes made Nathaniel’s stomach churn. He had seen too many faces like that, and it never got easier.

“Mind your business, Kane,” the leader sneered, his greasy hair falling into his eyes as he shoved Timothy harder against the brick. The other two thugs, muscle-bound drones with empty expressions, snickered. Their laughter was a harsh contrast to Timothy’s frightened sobs.

Nathaniel’s fists clenched, his mind racing through the options. Fighting wasn’t the smartest move, not with the odds stacked against him like this. But there was no way he was walking away. He had already seen the danger signs—the bruises on Timothy’s arms, the desperate look in his eyes. He couldn’t leave him like this.

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“Let. Him. Go,” Nathaniel repeated, stepping forward. He wasn’t bluffing, and they knew it. His reputation as a stubborn bastard who didn’t know when to quit was well-earned. The leader hesitated, weighing the risk of escalating versus the hit to his pride if he backed down.

“Last chance, Kane,” the leader growled, his bravado faltering just enough for Nathaniel to see the doubt in his eyes. That was all he needed. Nathaniel knew that hesitation was his ally.

“Or what?” Nathaniel shot back, his voice steady. “You’ll beat me up? Go ahead, but I’ll make sure you don’t forget me.”

The leader scowled, then shoved Timothy aside roughly. “You’re not worth the effort,” he spat, turning on his heel. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Nathaniel waited until they were out of sight before he turned to Timothy. The younger boy was shaking, tears welling up in his eyes. He looked even younger and more vulnerable now that the bullies were gone.

“You okay?” Nathaniel asked, his tone softer now. He put a hand on Timothy’s shoulder, trying to offer some comfort.

Timothy nodded, sniffling. “Thanks… I thought they were going to…”

“Yeah, well, they didn’t,” Nathaniel interrupted, not wanting to hear the rest. “But you need to stay out of their way. They’re not worth the trouble.”

Timothy nodded again, wiping his eyes with the back of his sleeve. “I will. I promise.”

“Good. Now get to class before the bell rings.” Nathaniel watched him go, feeling a small pang of satisfaction. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

Nathaniel had spent his whole life trying to do what was right, even when it wasn’t easy. Even when it hurt. But there was always a part of him that wondered if it was worth it. If anything he did really made a difference.

As he turned to head back to class, a strange feeling settled over him. The air felt… different. He couldn’t quite place it, but there was something off, something that made his skin prickle with unease. He shook it off, chalking it up to leftover adrenaline. But the feeling lingered, a quiet hum of something just on the edge of his perception.

He tried to focus on the rest of his day, but the unease remained, gnawing at him. The usual distractions—homework, social interactions, the endless cycle of school life—felt distant, overshadowed by the odd sensation. He dismissed it as a figment of his imagination, but a part of him couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to it.

As he walked through the school halls, Nathaniel’s thoughts drifted to the stories he had heard about people who could sense things before they happened, the so-called “intuitives” and “seers” who were often dismissed as fanciful. He had never believed in such things, but the feeling he had now was different. It was more than just a chill; it was a deep-rooted sense that something significant was about to unfold.

Nathaniel had no way of knowing that this feeling was a harbinger of the changes that were coming. In less than twenty-four hours, everything he knew would be upended. The Ether storm was approaching, a force that would awaken latent powers within him and set him on a path he could never have imagined. But for now, he was just Nathaniel Kane, a street kid with a chip on his shoulder and a heart that refused to give up. He had no idea of the destiny that awaited him or the ancient bloodline that would soon come to define his very existence.

For now, he was just trying to make it through the day, unaware that the storm brewing on the horizon would reshape his world forever.