The next morning, the world felt different to Zephyr. Not outwardly, of course. The same dull hum of the academy's lights, the same scent of stale air, the same incessant chatter of students filled the hallways. But within him, a subtle shift had occurred. It was as if a dormant sense had awakened, a faint, persistent hum beneath his skin, a constant reminder of the ethereal screen that now overlaid his vision. The System. His System.
He walked with a cautious lightness, his gaze no longer fixed solely on the scuffed linoleum. Now, his eyes subtly tracked the students around him, not just their faces, but the faint, shimmering auras that only he could perceive. Kael's aggressive crimson pulsed like a distant fire. Sarah's gentle blue-green was a soothing whisper. Even Miss Thorne's precise indigo, seen briefly as she passed, seemed to carry a new weight, a deeper resonance.
He had spent a restless night, tossing and turning, the System interface flickering in his mind's eye even when he closed them. He'd re-read the Class description for 'Echo' countless times, each word sinking in with a new layer of profound meaning. Mimicry and resonance… observe, absorb, and temporarily replicate… duration and potency depend on Resonance Stat and target's power. It was incredible. It was terrifying.
The implications were staggering. He, the weakling, the Unmarked, now possessed the potential to wield the very powers that had always oppressed him. But it was temporary. And it was a secret. A secret that, if revealed, could lead to unimaginable consequences. Would he be studied? Exploited? Feared? The thought sent a shiver down his spine. The world revered Awakened, but a mimic? A parasite, perhaps, in their eyes. He had to be careful. Incredibly careful.
His first priority was to understand his own System. He tried to access the interface again, focusing his mind. It shimmered into full view, transparent yet distinct. He experimented, trying to navigate it. A subtle mental command, a focused thought, seemed to work. He could scroll through his stats, his skills. He noticed a small, almost imperceptible icon next to his 'Mimicry' skill – a faint, glowing timer. It was a cooldown, he realized. After replicating Kael's strength yesterday, the skill was on cooldown for another few hours. He needed to understand these mechanics.
He also noticed a small, empty bar beneath his 'Experience' meter. He hadn't gained any experience from yesterday's brief mimicry. How did an Echo gain experience? Was it by successfully mimicking? Or by using mimicked abilities in combat? The System offered no immediate answers, a stark contrast to the detailed tutorials he'd read about other Classes. His was unique, and he was on his own.
As he reached his locker, he saw Kael and his usual group loitering nearby, their voices loud and boisterous. Kael's aura was particularly vibrant today, a deep, almost throbbing crimson. Zephyr instinctively activated 'Echoic Sense', a subtle mental pulse.
[ ECHOIC SENSE: TARGET ACQUIRED - KAEL (WARRIOR) ]
[ DETECTED ABILITIES: ][ POWER STRIKE (ACTIVE) ][ ENDURANCE (PASSIVE) ][ CHARGE (ACTIVE) ]New!
[ DETECTED STATS: ][ STRENGTH: 35 ]Increased![ VITALITY: 30 ]Increased![ AGILITY: 16 ]
Kael had leveled up. His strength had increased, and he'd gained a new ability: Charge. It made sense. Kael was always getting into fights, always pushing his limits. That meant he was gaining experience, growing stronger. And Zephyr, the Echo, was now keenly aware of it.
"Look who it is," Kael's voice boomed, cutting through Zephyr's thoughts. "The little shadow. Still lurking, Zephyr? Thought you might have grown a spine overnight."
Jett and Rix snickered. Zephyr felt the familiar knot of dread and humiliation tighten in his stomach. But this time, it was different. Beneath the dread, there was a flicker of something else: a cold, calculating determination. He had a weapon now. A hidden one.
"Just trying to get to my locker, Kael," Zephyr mumbled, keeping his voice low, his eyes on the combination lock.
"Oh, is that so?" Kael stepped closer, his large frame casting a shadow over Zephyr. "And what's in that locker, little man? More fantasy books? Maybe a guide on how to actually be a hero instead of just reading about them?"
Rix snorted. "He probably keeps his lunch money in there. Easy pickings."
Zephyr's hand trembled slightly as he fumbled with the lock. He could feel Kael's aura pressing in on him, a suffocating wave of aggressive energy. He wanted to lash out, but his Mimicry skill was still on cooldown. He had to wait. He had to plan.
"Leave him alone, Kael." Another voice, calm and clear, cut through the tension. It was Sarah, the Botanist, her aura a soft, reassuring green. She stood a few feet away, holding a potted plant, her expression one of quiet disapproval.
Kael rolled his eyes. "Oh, look, the plant whisperer is here. Go grow some daisies, Sarah. This is man talk."
"Bullying isn't 'man talk', Kael," Sarah retorted, her voice unwavering. "It's just pathetic."
Kael's face darkened, his aura flaring with irritation. "Watch your mouth, Botanist. Or I might just 'prune' that little plant of yours."
Sarah didn't back down, but Zephyr saw a flicker of fear in her eyes. He knew Kael wouldn't hesitate to destroy her plant, just to prove a point. Zephyr felt a surge of protectiveness, a fierce anger that surprised him. He was tired of being helpless. He was tired of seeing others, even those with Systems, be pushed around.
"It's fine, Sarah," Zephyr said, his voice barely audible. He finally got his locker open, pulling out his books for the next class.
"See?" Kael sneered, turning his attention back to Zephyr. "He knows his place. A little worm." He reached out, grabbing Zephyr's arm, his grip surprisingly tight. "You know, Zephyr, I'm getting tired of seeing your pathetic face around here. Why don't you just drop out? Save yourself some trouble."
The pain in Zephyr's arm flared, but it was overshadowed by the burning humiliation. This was it. He couldn't take it anymore. He looked at the System interface. The Mimicry skill timer was still counting down, but it was close. Very close.
He locked eyes with Kael, a silent challenge passing between them. Kael's smirk faltered slightly, surprised by the unexpected defiance in Zephyr's gaze.
"What are you looking at, worm?" Kael growled, tightening his grip.
Just then, the System interface flashed.
[ MIMICRY (ACTIVE) - COOLDOWN COMPLETE ]
A wave of exhilarating energy surged through Zephyr. This was his chance. He activated 'Echoic Sense' again, focusing intensely on Kael. The crimson aura flared brightly in his perception.
[ ECHOIC SENSE: TARGET ACQUIRED - KAEL (WARRIOR) ]
[ DETECTED ABILITIES: ][ POWER STRIKE (ACTIVE) ][ ENDURANCE (PASSIVE) ][ CHARGE (ACTIVE) ]
[ DETECTED STATS: ][ STRENGTH: 35 ][ VITALITY: 30 ][ AGILITY: 16 ]
Zephyr didn't hesitate. He mentally selected 'Strength' from Kael's detected stats.
[ MIMICRY: STRENGTH (KAEL) - ATTEMPTING REPLICATION... ]
Another, even more intense surge of power ripped through him. It felt like his veins were on fire, his muscles swelling, his bones solidifying. The world seemed to slow down, every detail sharpening. He could feel the pressure of Kael's fingers on his arm, but now, it felt like a feather-light touch.
[ MIMICRY: STRENGTH (KAEL) - SUCCESS! ][ TEMPORARY STAT BOOST: STRENGTH +25 ][ DURATION: 20 SECONDS ]
He had gained even more strength than yesterday! Perhaps his Resonance stat was improving with use, or maybe his desperation had fueled a more potent mimicry. Whatever the reason, the power was immense.
Kael's grip, which moments ago had been crushing, now felt like a mere suggestion. Zephyr's eyes, usually downcast, met Kael's with a newfound intensity.
"Let go, Kael," Zephyr said, his voice no longer a mumble, but a low, resonant growl that sent a shiver down Kael's spine.
Kael stared, momentarily stunned. He felt a strange, unsettling pressure emanating from Zephyr, something he couldn't quite place. It wasn't an aura he recognized, but it felt… powerful. He instinctively tightened his grip, trying to reassert his dominance.
But Zephyr didn't even flinch. With a sudden, explosive movement, he twisted his arm, easily breaking Kael's hold. Kael stumbled backward, his eyes wide with shock.
The small crowd that had gathered around them gasped. Jett and Rix exchanged bewildered glances. Zephyr, the weakling, had just broken Kael's grip. Impossible.
Zephyr didn't stop there. The surge of power was exhilarating, intoxicating. He had only 18 seconds left. He had to make it count.
"You like throwing books, Kael?" Zephyr asked, his voice still deep and resonant, utterly unlike his usual meek tone. He bent down, picked up a stray textbook that had fallen from someone's bag, and held it in one hand. It felt weightless.
Kael, recovering from his shock, scoffed. "What are you going to do, Zephyr? Read me to death?"
Zephyr smirked. A genuine smirk, one that felt alien on his own face. "No. I'm going to show you what happens when you mess with the wrong 'shadow'."
With a flick of his wrist, Zephyr threw the textbook. Not a weak, pathetic toss, but a powerful, precise throw. The book hurtled through the air, a blur of motion, and slammed into the locker directly behind Kael with a deafening CRANG! The metal locker door buckled inward, a deep, ugly dent marring its surface. The sound echoed through the hallway, silencing all chatter.
Kael, Jett, and Rix stared at the dented locker, then back at Zephyr, their faces pale with disbelief. That wasn't normal. That wasn't Unmarked strength.
"What the hell was that, Zephyr?" Kael finally managed to stammer, his bravado crumbling. His crimson aura flickered erratically, reflecting his shock and fear.
Zephyr felt the power beginning to recede, the glorious surge slowly draining from his limbs.
[ DURATION: 5 SECONDS REMAINING ]
He had to make his point. He stepped closer to Kael, who instinctively took a step back. The tables had turned.
"That," Zephyr said, his voice returning to its normal, softer tone as the Mimicry faded, "was a reminder. Some shadows, Kael, are darker than you think."
[ MIMICRY: STRENGTH (KAEL) - EXPIRED ]
The power was gone. He felt the familiar weakness return, a sudden, dizzying lightness in his limbs. His hand, which had felt numb moments ago, now throbbed with renewed pain. He quickly shoved his hands into his pockets, hoping to hide any lingering tremors.
Kael stared at him, then at the dented locker, then back at Zephyr. His mind was clearly struggling to process what had just happened. He was a Warrior. He was strong. Zephyr was nothing. Yet, Zephyr had just displayed strength that rivaled his own.
"You... you're Awakened?" Kael finally whispered, the accusation laced with a strange mix of awe and terror.
Zephyr said nothing, just met Kael's gaze with a steady, unblinking stare. He knew he couldn't reveal his Class. Not yet. Not ever, if he could help it. The secret of the Echo was too dangerous.
Jett and Rix, seeing Kael's stunned reaction, wisely remained silent. The crowd of students, initially buzzing with whispers, had fallen completely silent, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear, curiosity, and a dawning respect for the former weakling.
Suddenly, Miss Thorne's voice cut through the silence, her footsteps approaching rapidly. "What is going on here? Kael! What have you done to that locker?"
Kael flinched, his eyes darting from Zephyr to Miss Thorne. He was caught.
Zephyr, seizing the opportunity, quickly turned away, slipping into the stream of students heading for class. He didn't look back. He could feel Kael's bewildered gaze on his back, but it no longer held its usual venom.
He walked through the crowded hallways, a strange mix of emotions swirling within him. Triumph, exhilaration, fear, and a profound sense of isolation. He had stood up for himself. He had used his power. He had shown them. But at what cost? He was now a secret keeper, a ghost in the System, forever walking a tightrope between his true potential and the desperate need for concealment.
The path ahead was unclear, fraught with unknown dangers. But for the first time in his life, Zephyr felt a flicker of purpose, a nascent strength that had nothing to do with physical prowess, and everything to do with the echoes within him. He was no longer just a ripple. He was a potential wave, waiting for the right moment to crash.