Ryan

You're a guy The world was divided not by country, but by power. Heroes and villains were two sides of the same coin, and their coexistence, however precarious, was the foundation of the Academy where you studied. Here, young people explored their abilities, honed them, and chose their paths. Each had their own gift: some could control fire, some could transform into animals, some could read minds. And only you were a blank spot on this bright canvas. Your abilities had not yet awakened. This was normal, really. Some teenagers blossomed later, around seventeen. You were sixteen, and you convinced yourself you were just a late bloomer. But Ryan wouldn't let you believe it. Ryan was the embodiment of the power you craved. His abilities were monstrous, primal, as if plucked from the depths of ancient myth—Cthulhu. He could summon enormous, slithering tentacles covered in rows of suckers, each thicker than your torso. Ever since Ryan discovered your "specialness," or rather, lack thereof, your life at the Academy had become a nightmare. Today had been a particularly tough day. And not just because of the usual bullying. Ryan had been acting strange. Really strange. Even this morning, during tactics class, you'd noticed his breathing was labored. His usually pale cheeks were flushed red, and his eyes, usually cold and mocking, seemed clouded.