Chapter 1
1282 Words
Long time ago, humans and animals live together in the world. They share forests, rivers, and fields. Life was peaceful… but also very fragile.
Not all humans are the same. Some were different.
They were stronger, faster and smarter than other people. These people are called Kai.
Kai's power was amazing. One could lift huge boulders like nothing. They run across mountains in a few minutes. Their hits could break stones. Sometimes rivers even change paths when Kai fights.
The true power of Kai comes from deep inside their veins—a hidden energy called Qi. Only those who awake their Qi can use Dou Qi, and become a Kai. Without it, even the strongest human never can match them.
Kai was very rare. Their power is big, always there, changing the world from shadows and old stories. Some use it for good. Some… for fear.
“Hey, you hear? Camelot starts recruiting next week!” a girl whispers across the desk, her eyes shining with excitement.
“Ooh! I wish my Qi was already open,” another student said, bouncing a little in her chair. “Only then you can control Dou Qi… only then you can be a Kai. Imagine that!”
Matt pressed his two hands to his ears. his ears. He groan hard. He don’t want to hear it. Just want the noise stop… but the chatter around him keep getting louder.
“Hey, Matt!”
A sharp smack hit his desk. The sound c***k through the classroom, some students jump and look over.
Kade lean back, a smirk on his face. “I hear you promised to go Camelot Academy? The top school for Kai in all of Lisle City,” he said, voice full of mockery.
Matt laugh, but it come out bitter, almost like a cough. “What you talking about, Kade? Camelot for Kai. You know I’m not one!”
Kade was a prodigy, one of few who awake his Qi early. That mean he has a big chance to become a Kai, someone with strength, speed, and Dou Qi so strong that other students look weak. No surprise, he is popular. Girls whisper about him. Boys envy him.
“Tch. I hear your parents were powerful Kai… before they die,” Kade say, tilting head. His grin sharp, teasing. “Shouldn’t you inherit something from them? Or you just… trash?”
Matt clench his fists under desk. “Well… guess things didn’t go like planned. Unlike you… I did not fated to be Kai in this life,” he replied, forcing a small smile.
Kade grin get wider. “Tch. That smile! You mock me or what?!”
Before Matt can move, a crisp slap hit his cheek. The sting rings sharp in his ears.
“Yeah… yeah… sorry,” Matt mumbled, rubbing face.
“Weakling. Thought you put up fight at least,” Kade says, brushing hand off, straightening. Surrounded by followers, he saunter away like a king leaving court.
Matt press hand to chest, muttering quiet, “Put up a fight, huh… we see about that.”
Riing!
The electric bell ring, signal end of school day at Stephen Middle School. Students cheer loud, grab bags, rush out to street, all want go home fast.
“Man… I hear the number of murders this week go up again,” one man say as they walk down street, voices low but tense.
“Hm. What Vigilant Force Association even doing? They still have not found the killer after all this time,” the other reply.
“Yeah… serial killers have been active for weeks now. Vigilant really that unreliable?”
Ever since Kai appeared and the mysterious Dou Qi show up, some people have started thinking… dangerous thoughts.
Some Kai think their destiny make them better than others. They look down on normal humans, do crimes like nothing, and often no one punish them. People call them mercenaries, a name full of fear and hate.
But like two sides of coin, other group believe different thing: with big power come big responsibility.
These Kai who think the same way come together to form Vigilant Force Association—a group made to protect normal people from mercenaries and other danger. They also watch rogue Kai, make sure no one use power to hurt society.
Over time, joining Aegis Association became one of most respected—and most wanted—paths for Kai, a sign of honor and responsibility in a world always close to chaos and order.
Creek… creek… creek…
Crickets chirp, frogs croak sometimes, all under bright moon, light spill over glitter stars.
“Tomorrow's exam,” Matt mutter, yawn, holding old oil lamp in one hand, big textbook in other. “Even my grades are top of class, Mr. Scot unpredictable. Better revise little…”
He put the textbook on wooden floor, try light lamp.
“Aish!” he groan, get frustrated. Lamp flicker and go out. Oil finish.
“I forget buy more after school,” he murmur, look at the moon reflection on the window.
“Late now… I wonder if the store even open?”
Then he remembered the talk he overhear before. Serial killer… act at night…
Matt shiver. What if killer near? What if he come this street?
Shit… he hates to leave the house at night. Fear tight in stomach. But without oil, no light. Without light… no study.
He take deep breath, think about danger and need.
Finally, he decided to go. He risk it. Maybe serial killer is not even near his area. Maybe… just maybe… he will get back safe.
Dead set, he go back to his cozy room. Using little moonlight coming through window, he takes some money from under the pillow.
He tuck it in pocket, leave house.
After lock door careful, he start jogging to nearest clonvenience store.
.
.
.
“Damn that Vigilant! Never think they will track me like this!”
A figure, body bruised and clothes torn, stumble into an alley, lean on a trash can, pant heavy.
Judging by shape… it's a girl. Hair blood-stained, fall over shoulder, cover face.
“Aish! I need to quench my thirst before Vigilant comes here… or life over!” Viviennie screams, frustrated.
“Eh?” Her fingers twitch. Moments later, someone jogging appear—Matt!
“water!” Viviennie screams and pounces forward.
Matt jogging in the alley suddenly feel something jump on him.
Cold… and bouncy like an elastic press on chest.
No time to think. Two sharp things sink into collar bone.
“Ugh!!” he groan, try twist free. But Viviennie grip strong, hold him tight.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Like wild animal, Viviennie hold onto Matt like life depend on it. Already feel little of strength come back, pulse in veins.
“Blood sucker! Leave kid!”
Angry voice cut alley, then thick vine snap hit Viviennie, throw her to ground.
“Ugh… time go!” she groan, struggle stand. Wobbly but try, disappear into shadow, leave Matt behind.
.
.
.
Matt groan, slowly open eyes. First thing hit him… bad smell, like sulphur.
“Hospital?” he mutter weak, hand touch right side collarbone, tight bandage there.
Memory come back… alley, attack, strange woman… he shiver.
What wrong with her? Why bite him?
No matter how he try, nothing make sense.
Door open, man in white coat come in. Smile calm, but something make Matt little ease.
“You awake, young man? What relief,” doctor say.
“D… doctor… how long I unconscious?” Matt ask, voice rough.
“A whole week,” doctor reply, tone gentle but serious.
- Writer
