The hot water ran down Jace’s back, scalding against his skin, but he barely felt it. He stood motionless under the spray, hands braced against the tiled wall, head hanging low. The mirror across from him was fogged, but he could still make out his reflection—a ghost of himself. His knuckles were bruised, his ribs ached with every breath, and the faintest traces of dried blood clung to his temple. He looked like hell. But what disturbed him most wasn’t the injuries.
It was his own eyes, there was nothing in them. No fire. No anger. No frustration. Just a hollow stare.
Jace had always thought of himself as strong—not just physically, but mentally. No matter how hard things got, he could push through. But last night shattered that belief. Lucian had stripped him down to nothing, twisted his strength into shackles, and showed him just how powerless he really was.
His fists clenched against the wall, nails pressing into his palms. The thought of crying crossed his mind, the sting building behind his eyes, but he refused. He forced himself to straighten, inhaling deeply as if that could steady the tremor in his chest.
Not now. Not here.
Instead, he turned off the shower, grabbed a towel, and stepped out.
By the time he emerged from his room, Jace had forced his usual smirk back onto his face. His mother was in the kitchen, her back to him as she made coffee. He walked up behind her, plastering on his best casual tone.
"Morning, Mom," he said, opening the fridge.
She turned, surprised. "Oh! You’re up early." Her gaze flickered over him, concern creeping in despite his attempt at normalcy. "You okay, sweetheart?"
Jace flashed a lopsided grin. "What, do I not look okay?"
Her brow furrowed, but before she could press further, he grabbed an apple and dramatically took a bite. "I’m great. Super great. You know me—unstoppable."
His mother didn’t look convinced, but after a long pause, she sighed. "Alright. Just… take care of yourself, okay?"
"Always," he said, forcing his voice to stay light. He leaned over, kissed her cheek, and grabbed his backpack. "See you later and good luck with pantheon laboratories today""
She smiled softly. " Thanks baby "
As Jace stepped outside, the smile vanished.
Instead of leaping of rooftops and terrains like he usually would, Jace walked to the bus stop.
The ride was quiet. The city passed by in a blur, but he barely noticed. The excitement he once felt about his abilities, about being something greater, was gone. The weight of it all—the lies, the pain, the constant fear—pressed down on him.
When he got to school, the day passed in a haze.
He moved through the halls like a shadow, barely acknowledging anyone. Teachers called on him, and he gave automatic answers. Friends waved, and he forced a quick nod in return. It was like he wasn’t even there.
Leo noticed.
At lunch, he sat across from Jace, watching him carefully. "Alright, dude, what’s up?"
Jace blinked. "What?"
"You’re acting weird."
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Jace scoffed, leaning back. "Weirder than usual?"
Leo didn’t laugh. "You’re quiet. You’re never quiet."
Jace shrugged, picking at his food. "Guess I’m just tired."
Leo narrowed his eyes but didn’t push. Instead, he grinned and elbowed Jace’s side. "You need to loosen up, man. Maybe I should set you up on a date. What about—"
"Not interested," Jace cut in.
Leo groaned dramatically. "Oh my god, who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"
Jace gave a weak chuckle. It was enough to satisfy Leo—at least for now.
---
After school, Jace and Leo walked together, but when they reached their usual parting point, Jace kept going toward the bus stop.
Leo frowned. "Wait. You’re taking the bus?"
Jace nodded.
Leo squinted at him. "You hate the bus."
"Just felt like switching it up."
Leo stared for a moment but let it go.
Then, footsteps.
Jace had sensed them earlier but hadn’t cared. Now, as five figures closed in around them, he exhaled slowly.
At the front of the group was Tank. Once a schoolyard bully, Tank had taken a downward spiral ever since Jace embarrassed him in front of half the school. Drinking, fights, and rumors of gang activity had followed, and now, those rumors seemed true.
Tank sneered, eyes bloodshot. "Look who it is," he slurred. "The big hero."
Jace didn’t react.
Tank stepped closer, alcohol thick on his breath. "I should break your damn legs for what you did to me."
Jace exhaled, barely sparing him a glance. "Leo. Run."
Leo tensed. "What?"
"Go home."
Before Leo could react, the gang rushed Jace.
Jace remained limp on the ground, barely aware of the gang’s taunts as they rained blows down on him. Metal bats cracked against his ribs, heavy boots slammed into his sides, but he barely felt it. His body had taken worse. His mind was elsewhere—numb, detached.
One of the gang members pulled out a gauntlet—a crude but dangerous piece of enhanced tech. Blue energy flickered at his knuckles as he raised it for a punch—
A loud clang !
The loud clang rang through the alley as it bounced off the thug’s skull. The gang member staggered, clutching his head in shock. Everyone turned toward the source of the attack.
Leo stood at the alley entrance, breathing hard, in his hands a cover of a trash can .
"Get away from him," he said.
For the first time since the attack started, Jace’s head lifted. His eyes found Leo, standing there, fearless, shaking slightly but unwavering.
Something inside Jace cracked.
The numbness, the detachment—it all shattered in an instant. A new sensation flooded his chest, a mix of guilt, anger, and something more powerful than either. Leo had come back for him. Leo, the guy who had no powers, no combat training, nothing—but still stood his ground against five thugs.
And they turned on him.
Two of them rushed Leo. He barely had time to lift the trash can lid as a shield before a bat slammed into it, sending him stumbling. Another grabbed him by the shirt, yanking him forward, fist raised—
Jace moved.
Tank stood beside him—too close. Before the drunk could react, Jace twisted and drove his fist into Tank’s gut.
Tank let out a choking gasp, his body folding over Jace’s knuckles. The bat he had been holding slipped from his grip, clattering to the ground. Jace caught it.
Jace didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, sweeping the bat low, knocking one attacker’s legs out from under him. The guy hit the ground hard, groaning but still conscious.
. Jace darted in, using the bat’s handle to push the guy off balance before hooking his foot behind his knee, sending him stumbling to the ground.
The third attacker hesitated. He looked between Jace and Leo, clearly weighing his options.
Jace took a step forward. “Just stay down.”
The guy hesitated for another half-second before making the smart decision and running away.
Jace exhaled.
Then a sharp hum filled the air.
He turned just in time to see the last thug—the one Leo had hit—scrambling for the enhanced gauntlet on the ground. The tech flickered to life, energy humming in the palm.
Jace moved on instinct, stepping in front of Leo.
The gang member fired.
The energy blast struck Jace square in the chest.
He barely shifted.
The gang member’s smug expression faltered into pure confusion.
Jace let out a slow breath
Silence filled the alley.
Jace ripped the trash can lid from Leo’s hand and flung it. It slammed into the guy’s head, knocking him out cold.
As the rest of the gang groaned, Jace crouched down and grabbed the fallen enhanced gauntlet, stuffing it into his backpack before standing up.
“Let’s go,” he muttered to Leo, his voice quiet but firm. Leo nodded, still processing everything as they walked out of the alley together.
Leo was still staring., confused about everything that just happened. Jace who seemed like he needed help, knocked out all the gang members without breaking a sweat like some special agent.
Jace exhaled. Then, before Leo could react, he grabbed him and leaped onto the nearest rooftop.
Leo let out a strangled yell, clutching onto Jace as they landed. "WHAT THE HELL—"
Jace set him down, looking him in the eye.
