Phantom's Path

Chapter 4

The guards had set up in the middle of the town, where anyone who had reached the age of fifteen could come to see if their life would change forever. The excitement and fear in the air were palpable, as if the entire town held its breath in anticipation. Every kid, every teenager who could possibly awaken powers today stood in the middle of the square, their futures hanging by a thread.

When we arrived, there were already about eighty kids in line ahead of us, all chatting nervously with one another, trying to hide the anxiety bubbling beneath their surface. I felt the tension in my chest, the kind that only comes when you know something big is about to happen. I glanced at Tim and Amelia, both of them looking almost too calm as they stood beside me, though I could tell they were just as nervous as I was on the inside.

Thirty minutes passed slowly, each second dragging on. My mind raced with possibilities—what if I didn't awaken? What if my powers were weak? Or worse, what if I didn't have any at all?

Suddenly, there was a rustle in the crowd, a murmur of excitement. The whispers started to spread. I heard someone mention a name—Victor. Victor had just gone through, and the artifact had revealed his powers. I overheard someone nearby say, "Victor got Time Manipulation, Ice Manipulation, and Aura Sword."

That was a combination no one could ignore. I could practically hear the sound of his life changing right there in front of everyone. Time manipulation was rare—people would be willing to do anything for that kind of power. Ice manipulation wasn't exactly common either, and an Aura Sword? That was a weapon of legends. Victor's future was set. His life had just shifted in ways he couldn't have even dreamed of before.

I felt a pang of envy. That could be me. That could be one of us.

But time moved on. More and more kids were called up to the device, and I watched with a mix of curiosity and dread as some cheered, while others quietly slipped away, their faces streaked with tears. Some were devastated by their lack of powers, others by the fact that their abilities weren't as great as they'd hoped. A few had been expecting something grand, only to find themselves with powers that wouldn't take them far. It was a stark reminder of how unforgiving this world could be.

Finally, Amelia's name was called. I glanced at her, trying to gauge how she was feeling. Her usual fiery energy seemed subdued, but I knew she wasn't going to show any fear. Amelia had always been confident, even when the world wasn't so kind.

The tall man with the scar over his left eye stood next to the guard who was taking down names. He looked imposing, his gaze sharp and professional. He asked for Amelia's name, and she stood tall and unflinching.

"Amelia Blackriver," she said.

The guard wrote her name down, and the tall man handed her the small silver device—the same one I'd seen used countless times before, an artifact designed to reveal the powers a person possessed.

Amelia placed her hand on the device, and the small object began to hum with energy. It glowed softly for a moment, then a voice echoed from it.

"Ice Manipulation, Telekinesis, and Illusion Manipulation."

A hush fell over the crowd. Amelia's abilities were incredible—three powerful talents. Ice Manipulation could make her a force to be reckoned with in combat. Telekinesis gave her control over her environment, while Illusion Manipulation could make her almost impossible to catch or defeat. I knew right then that she had passed, and there was no way she wasn't going to one of the top schools in the country.

The guard wrote her abilities down, then signaled for her to follow him. She glanced back at us, a small, confident smile on her face. "I'll see you in the tent," she said, then walked off with the guard.

Next was Tim's turn. I watched as he stepped forward, his face calm, his eyes steely. He said his name, and when the guard handed him the artifact, he took it without hesitation.

He placed his hand on the device, and the light flickered once again.

"Gravity Manipulation and Darkness Manipulation."

I had to bite back a smile. Tim's powers were solid—Gravity Manipulation was rare enough on its own, but Darkness Manipulation was a rare and dangerous ability. I could only imagine the kind of trouble Tim could cause with those two abilities together. It was no surprise that the guard nodded in approval and waved Tim toward the tent where Amelia was waiting.

And now it was my turn.

My heart was pounding in my chest. I stepped forward, my hands clammy, but I didn't let my nerves show. This was it. Everything had led to this moment. I could feel the eyes of everyone around me, all of them waiting to see if I would make the cut.

The tall man looked down at me, his expression unreadable. I gave him my name.

"Rearden Dune."

The guard wrote it down, and the tall man handed me the device. I could feel the weight of it, as though it held the power to change everything.

I hesitated for just a second before placing my hand on the artifact. The cold metal sent a shiver down my spine, and as soon as my palm made contact, the device began to glow. The humming noise filled the air, and I held my breath.

"Lightning Manipulation, Duplication, and Intangibility."

The words rang out, and I felt a strange surge of energy inside me. The device flickered again, confirming what it had said. My powers were real. They were here. Lightning Manipulation was powerful—aggressive and fast. Duplication gave me the ability to make copies of myself, and Intangibility? That was a game changer. I could phase through anything, be untouchable, invisible to the world.

I stood there for a moment, processing what the device had revealed. I had never expected to get something like this. Lightning alone was incredible, but with Duplication and Intangibility? I had power. I had a chance to finally change my life.

The guard nodded, writing my abilities down before signaling for me to join Tim and Amelia.

I walked toward the tent, my mind still reeling with the possibilities. I found them inside, sitting together, looking at me with expectant eyes. I took a deep breath and sat down beside them, finally able to relax just a little. My life had just changed. Now, it was time to see where this new path would take me.

The future was wide open. And I was ready to walk it.