The stone shattered.
Fragments exploded across the ground as Zayn's fist stopped inches from where the rock had been.
Dust drifted in the air.
His knuckles trembled.
Zayn slowly pulled his hand back and exhaled.
— Again…
He turned toward another stone.
Bigger. Heavier.
It sat half-buried in the dirt, cracked from years of rain and neglect.
Zayn planted his feet.
The night was quiet here, far from Bestaria's streets.
No eyes. No whispers. No fear.
Only him.
He raised his fist.
And struck.
Pain shot through his arm.
The stone didn't break.
Zayn hissed through his teeth and stepped back.
— Tch…
His hand was red. Swollen.
He clenched it anyway.
— Again.
He punched.
Again.
Again.
The sound echoed through the empty field—
thud, crack, breath, thud.
His breathing grew heavier.
Sweat ran down his face, soaking his clothes.
Each strike sent pain through his bones, but Zayn didn't stop.
He welcomed it.
Pain meant he was still here.
Pain meant he was moving forward.
> I won't be weak.
I can't be.
The stone finally cracked.
A thin line split its surface.
Zayn froze.
Then he smiled.
— There you go…
He drew back his arm one last time.
And hit.
The stone collapsed into pieces.
Zayn staggered back, breathing hard.
His arm dropped to his side.
His vision blurred.
The world tilted.
And suddenly—
—
Pain.
Real pain.
Different.
Hot.
Sharp.
Zayn's breath caught in his throat.
The field vanished.
---
Three years ago
Rain poured from the sky.
Zayn ran.
His lungs burned.
His legs screamed.
Behind him—
Laughter.
Low. Mocking.
— Run faster, little half-blood.
Zayn stumbled and rolled across the muddy ground.
He barely had time to look up before something slammed into his chest.
The air left his lungs.
He hit the ground hard.
— Pathetic.
The djinn stood above him.
Tall. Twisted. Its eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
Zayn tried to move.
His body refused.
— You humans are fragile… and you're not even fully one.
The djinn lifted its hand.
Energy gathered around its fingers.
Zayn's heart pounded.
> I'm going to die.
The thought was calm.
Cold.
Too familiar.
— Any last words?
Zayn clenched his teeth.
Memories flooded his mind.
Aaron's voice.
His mother's smile.
The looks people gave him.
Monster.
Mistake.
Half-breed.
Something inside him cracked.
— Shut up…
The djinn laughed.
— What was that?
Zayn's vision darkened.
His hands trembled.
His chest burned.
Something deep inside him screamed.
Not fear.
Not pain.
Rage.
— SHUT UP!
The ground shook.
The djinn froze.
— …What?
Heat surged through Zayn's body.
No—
Not heat.
Something heavier.
Deeper.
It felt alive.
Zayn screamed as power exploded from him.
The air twisted.
The djinn was thrown back, slamming into a wall.
Zayn gasped, barely understanding what was happening.
His body moved on its own.
He stood.
Energy wrapped around his fists—wild, unstable, violent.
— Impossible… the djinn whispered.
Zayn didn't answer.
He moved.
One step.
Then another.
Each step felt like he was dragging the world with him.
He raised his fist.
And struck.
The impact shattered the wall behind the djinn.
Silence followed.
Zayn stood there, shaking, energy flickering around him like a dying flame.
Then—
Everything went dark.
---
Zayn gasped and fell to one knee.
The present crashed back into place.
The field.
The broken stones.
The cold night air.
— …Haa… haa…
His heart pounded violently.
His hands trembled.
He stared at them.
Empty.
No energy.
No glow.
Just scars and bruises.
— That power…
He swallowed.
— It only comes when I lose control…
Zayn slowly stood.
The exam was tomorrow.
The Paladin Academy.
A place that hunted djinns.
A place that would never accept what he truly was.
He clenched his fists.
— Still… I'll go.
---
That night, Zayn lay on his bed.
The room was dark.
A single lamp flickered beside him.
Scrolls and notes were spread across the mattress, but he barely looked at them.
His eyes were fixed on the ceiling.
— Tomorrow…
His chest felt tight.
If he failed, nothing would change.
If he passed…
Everything would.
— I don't care how hard it is…
He closed his eyes.
— I'll take it all.
The rain began to fall outside.
Somewhere in the darkness of Célestia—
Something stirred.
—
End of Chapter 2 🔥