Chapter 1-The Fallen Star

Writer:Feroz Danish(+65 8944 9852)

Kazuki Tsukio-2nd year Student at Seiryu Academy

The morning sun bathed the city in a soft, golden glow as Kazuki raced down the familiar streets toward Seiman High.

 The wind rushed past him, tugging at his school blazer, but the exhilaration of the run made him feel alive. His heart pounded in his chest, not from exertion, but from the sheer excitement of the day ahead. 

His mind was already filled with plans—another day of magic classes, hanging out with his friends, enjoying his carefree life. As he rounded the corner near the school gates, his sharp eyes caught sight of a group of thugs picking on a younger student. 

Without even thinking, Kazuki's expression hardened. His body moved before his brain could process it."Hey! Are you guys bored or something? Why are you picking on my junior?" Kazuki shouted, a smirk tugging at his lips. 

He cracked his knuckles and overlooked them from the top. The thugs turned, sneering at first, but their faces quickly fell when they recognized him. Kazuki wasn't the biggest guy, but his reputation for beating up bullies was well-known.

They didn't even try to fight as he dispatched them one by one with a series of quick, well-placed blows, infused with just a touch of wind magic to make them go flying. They couldn't even attack back Kazuki was punching from 5 meters away because as carefree as he is...

 during a fight, anything could happen so it was good to be cautious regardless even if it's someone you look down on. 

After all, Humans are different than gods, we could die at any time, and everything we ever did, everything that we have will disappear. At no point in a fight should one let their guard down or underestimate the abilities of the opponent. Mistakes are costly

Within minutes, the thugs were sprawled on the ground, groaning. He pocketed their wallets, grinning. "Thanks for the donation, guys. I was feeling a little hungry."

Their shouts of protest to get their money back faded as he ignored them. The younger student looked up at Kazuki with wide eyes. "T-thanks, Kazuki" 

  "Don't sweat it," Kazuki grinned, patting the kid on the back. "Just make sure you stay out of trouble" Kazuki hands him half of the money. "Don't spend it all in one place"

He thought in his head while walking off slowly "Must be a new first-year who hasn't learned any type of magic yet. I'm sure after a day or two he will be able to protect himself against guys like that, I don't have to worry that much about him"

With that, he jogged toward the school gates, feeling more energized than ever. Kazuki found his seat in the back row, next to his two close friends(Riku and Shawn).

 The teacher's voice droned on about advanced elemental theory, but Kazuki's head was propped up on his hand, his earlier excitement gone and reality caught up to him... 

He'd spent most of the previous night thinking about Akio, his girlfriend the entire night wishing she was sleeping well and thinking of what to do to surprise her for Valentine's and now he was paying for it. 

 "Hey, your daydreaming again Kazuki" Riku whispered, elbowing him. Kazuki blinked and straightened up, yawning. "Yeah, yeah. What's the big deal? It's not like it's that hard."

 "But you still have to listen... it's still valuable information that will help us grow and get stronger" says RikuKazuki grinning, half-listening as his friends scolded him. 

This was routine by now. He was a natural at magic, easily outperforming his peers, and his teachers had long since stopped scolding him for his occasional naps in class. 

He is pretty talented as he has never trained his entire life and yet is still naturally strong and has a higher magic level than others who have trained hard. 

This led to him being overconfident in himself and growing an I'll always be better than everyone and nobody was as good as me when I was this age attitude which was what made him stay at the same level always procrastinating his long-waited training.

 In Contrast to his attitude, however, he is a good person who cares for others and their feelings but one weakness is that he is... Overly Sensitive.

His goal in life is to be the strongest in the world and live happily with his girlfriend but like many people who are reading this light novel, he is lazy.

Laziness is the heaviest burden you can carry, weighing down your ambitions, chaining your potential, and holding you back from the life you could have lived. It's the silent thief that steals your dreams, one moment of inaction at a time.

Kazuki always tried to make up for it with perfect test scores or spectacular practical displays during magic Examinations when he really had to do it. By the time school ended, Kazuki's usual group of friends had gathered in their favorite spot under the trees in the courtyard.

It was a warm, peaceful day, the kind that made you want to just lie down and enjoy the breeze. Kazuki leaned back, his hands behind his head, while Riku and the others chattered away about the latest gossip and upcoming magic tournaments.

 "Man, Kazuki," Shawn said between bites of his sandwich, "you're gonna crush the competition again this year, aren't you?"

 Kazuki shrugged casually, though a confident smile played on his lips. "Come on... you've seen my power before, I mean unless someone here collects the seven dragon balls and wishes to be stronger than me then maybe they have a chance."

[Writers Note: That was a reference to Dragon Ball Z, there are no such things in this world, and if there are it wouldn't be dragon balls(:]

 They all laughed, and Kazuki felt a familiar warmth settle in his chest. He had his friends, his power, and his carefree life. Everything was perfect. Or at least, it seemed that way.

 Shawn was searching stuff online and then he found something interesting. He showed both of them a picture of 5 body types ranging from very muscular to very thin. 

Which would guys prefer? I would one hundred percent choose number 5... Then I'll be so big and strong women won't be able to resist me and then I'll settle for a few wives and live happily ever after in a small cottage by the-- (cut off mid-sentence)

 Kazuki laughs uncontrollably and smacks his head with tears in his eyes "Maybe in your dreams bud" 

Shawn: "Ouch that hurts Kazuki.. But anyways it's not funny! I probably have tens of girls from our class looking my way already even without those muscles ehehe" he smirks

 Riku: "Kazuki would you mind hitting him one more time for me... he has clearly gone crazy"

Kazuki: "You don't have to ask me twice Riku" Kazuki assured before smacking Shawn's head one more time 

Shawn: "OWWWWWWWWWHH... he screams in agony but recovers after a few minutes of crying. Anyways, what would you guys choose?"

 Riku: "I would go for number 4 its not too much but still muscular."

Kazuki: "I don't want Akio to feel too much pain when we do it in the future eheheheh.. maybe 3... it's average..."

After hearing what Kazuki said both of them shout in surprise. EHHHHHHH

Kazuki:  "I'm joking guys..."

 Both of them look at him suspiciously...

Kazuki: A-anyways I gotta go right now. I wanna surprise Akio.. he brought flowers and tried to find her. His face has a soft, welcoming smile that seems almost permanent, putting people at ease the moment they see him.

 His warm amber eyes sparkle with kindness, His red hair is messy but in a charming, carefree way, giving him a playful, approachable look.

 Kazuki walked down the hallways of Seiryu Academy, a place reserved only for the best—the elite, the magically gifted, and the children of high-standing families.

 He was neither from a renowned family nor considered particularly powerful, but he had worked hard and earned his place. It was the only thing keeping him afloat.

That, his good friends and Akio, his girlfriend, the one person who had made him believe he belonged. But as he walked today, something felt off. He saw her ahead of him, her dark hair flowing as she moved with her usual grace, but... there was something different. 

She wasn't alone. Intrigued and slightly annoyed, Kazuki decided to follow her, a wicked grin spreading across his face. He imagined surprising her, catching her off-guard for a playful scare. 

 Kazuki:Heh... Heh... Heee. 

 That's when he saw him—the man standing next to Akio. His hair was striking blond, almost glowing in the afternoon sun, and his eyes... those eyes were a deep, unnatural red. Something was unnerving about him, a cold superiority in his posture. 

 Kazuki's stomach twisted as he watched them interact, a casual closeness that made his heart sink. They laughed together. A laugh he hadn't heard from her in the months they were dating.No... this can't be real. But it was. 

 The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. She was cheating on him. The girl he had given everything to was smiling up at another man as if he had never existed. 

"To love and trust someone is to give them the most fragile part of you—your heart. But when that trust is shattered, especially by someone you believed in, it's like the ground crumbling beneath you. The betrayal leaves an emptiness so deep, that it feels as if the love you once had never existed. What remains is a hollow ache, a wound that time may heal, but the scars will always remind you of the pain."

Writers Note:[remember, in life, you will never get what you deserve even if you worked hard for it. Some things are just not meant to be and it's hard. It really is but there's nothing you can do about it accept it and move on. Life is about being happy. Don't let yourself be consumed until you lose what is supposed to be most important to you and everyone around you, yourself. The way you smile, joke around, and all that. To overcome this type of pain you will need to talk to your friends and let it all out. If you are in a situation where there's no one you can trust to hear your pain. You can contact me at +65 8944 9852 ....  BTW I'm only 15 but I can still try my best(: OKAY let's continue!] 

Fueled by heartbreak and rage, Kazuki stepped forward, his presence looming over the two. Akio turned, her expression faltering for a second before it settled into something colder, more distant.

 For the first time in his life, Kazuki felt the sting of a true negative emotion—a cold, hollow ache that twisted his insides. a darkness that whispered of betrayal and anger. It was the raw taste of what it meant to be powerless, to stand alone against the weight of the world, stripped of the comfort he once took for granted."

"Akio," Kazuki's voice was strained, barely containing his emotions. "Who is this?"

 The man spoke before Akio could even open her mouth. "The name's Ryuno Takahara," he said, his voice like silk but with an edge of arrogance. He gave Kazuki a slow, mocking smile. "What's it to you?"

 "Stay away from her."Ryunosuke tilted his head, amused. "And why would I do that?"Kazuki stepped forward, his voice shaking. "She's my girlfriend."There was a moment of silence. And then Ryunosuke laughed, a loud, cruel laugh that echoed across the courtyard.

Akio didn't say a word. She just watched, her expression blank."Hahaha... you can't possibly be serious, This is your boyfriend?" Ryuno looked at Akio, smirking.

Ryuno "I thought you were joking when you said you were dating a commoner."

This is even funnier than I thought."Kazuki's blood boiled. "Fight me!" he shouted, his voice echoing. "A one-on-one. Right here, right now."

 Ryuno's smirk grew wider. "Really? A second-year commoner thinks he can fight me?" He glanced at Akio as if sharing the joke with her. "You must be as stupid as you are weak."

Kazuki felt a flash of pain in his chest at the insult, but he shoved it aside. He wasn't going to back down. He had to prove himself, prove that he was worth something, to Akio, to this guy, and to himself.

But it was true, he was usually so cautious of even just lowly thugs but this time... he was blinded by emotions and wanted to jump straight into a fight with a guy he had never met before... Ryuno didn't really seem to be around his age... deep inside him, he knew it was a mistake to challenge this guy now without learning of his abilities

in this world, the four elements aren't just the only type of magic there were. In fact, there were hundreds and even thousands of them. However, in school, there were only four elements that needed to be taught and mastered because it was something everybody had.

There was really no predicting this Ryuno guy from the start and why he seemed to be so interested in his girlfriend.

 Without another word, Kazuki activated his Evanescent Step, his body flickering out of view and reappearing behind Ryunosuke with a surge of speed. His right leg was already blazing, engulfed in a fiery aura as well as wind magic, blazing hot and aimed directly at him.

As Kazuki's foot moved toward Ryuno's chest, an explosion of energy rippled outward. The force was so intense that it seemed to ignite the entire school in a burst of light. 

Windows shook, the ground trembled, and a blinding radiance flooded the hallways, casting long shadows that danced like startled phantoms. For a moment, it was as if Kazuki's sheer power had turned day into night, with him at the epicenter, glowing like a living star.

 It was a spectacular move. The kind of attack that had won him duels before. But Ryunosuke didn't even flinch.He caught Kazuki's leg with one hand, as though catching a ball tossed by a child.

Before Kazuki had time to be surprised, With a flick of his wrist, Ryuno twisted Kazuki's leg, dislocating his knee with a sickening crack. Kazuki's scream echoed in the air as he collapsed to the ground"AHHHHHHHH!" Kazuki howled, his face pale from the pain.

At that moment he wasn't worried about his leg... it was something that could be healed but it felt like he lost something valuable to him... something as important as breathing or his ability to see or think.

 his breath came in ragged gasps as he looked up in horror. "M-my magic... why can't I use my magic?!"Ryuno loomed over him, his red eyes gleaming with cold amusement. "Did you seriously challenge me without knowing the power of the Takahara family?" 

His voice was smooth, almost condescending. "Well, I'm not stupid enough to tell you anyway so I guess you'll live your entire life questioning why or how" 

Kazuki's heart pounded in his chest. "I-I can still fight!" He struggled to stand, using his left leg. "You haven't won yet!" 

 Ryuno sighed as if bored already. "Still so stubborn." He stepped forward and with a flick of his fingers, sent a pulse of raw energy toward Kazuki. It hit him like a tidal wave, knocking him down again, this time smashing his remaining arm into the ground with a shattering force.

If not for his naturally strong body he would have been dead but he will definitely survive and be able to use both his arms and legs

 Kazuki screamed again, his body trembling, blood dripping from his mouth. He lay there, broken, barely able to move. His vision blurred as he tried to summon the strength to stand, but his limbs wouldn't obey. 

 Ryuno stood over him, staring down with disdain. "What an annoying pest. You're not even worth the effort." He glanced toward the school's main building. "If it weren't for the rules against killing on this school grounds, you'd be nothing more than a stain on the floor by now."

 He turned his back on Kazuki as if he were no longer a threat. "Consider yourself lucky. Goodbye, commoner."As Ryuno walked away, Akio stepped forward. 

In all that time Ryuno also tried to learn who this Ryuno guy was but his conclusion was that he was probably some well-known family elsewhere and that he probably isn't from this school at all... It was so weird.

 Kazuki for the first time in his life tasted defeat but it seemed like it may also be his last. The realization of what actually happened and how he couldn't use magic again struck him.

 Especially since he was someone who never trained in his life. Someone who wanted to keep it for later... Someone who wanted to be the best... and protect his family and close ones. It really was too late, wasn't it...

Writer's Note:[It's not just the failure that stings; it's the shame of knowing you never even tried. The weight of regret is heaviest when you realize you never gave it your all, and now, the world moves on without mercy, leaving you to drown in the emptiness of your own excuses."]

Kazuki noticed Akio coming. He knew he had been betrayed but didn't know why so despite his hidden anger and disappointment toward Akio he still had to ask why

She crouched down next to Kazuki, her eyes devoid of the warmth they once held. "Why, Akio?" Kazuki whispered, his voice hoarse and broken. "Why did you cheat on me? I gave you everything... everything you ever wanted..."

 Akio looked down at him, her voice cold and distant. "I know. But you got boring. I needed someone stronger, someone better."Kazuki's anger flared through his pain.

He himself knew that she wouldn't tell him the whole story... 

Kazuki's Thinking Process: She was pretty, yes but being that close to someone that strong. It must be that she is valuable in some way to him. They don't look alike so like not siblings. Maybe step-siblings? No her family couldn't possibly get contact with someone like this. His last thought was, that maybe she had hidden powers that she found or perhaps she had it this entire time? No... it cannot be. Yea, she must have some hidden powers she just found. If it's not that then I have completely no idea. The guy also seemed to be naturally evil so it's likely she had powers that benefit him and if he wanted to be in a relationship like that with her, maybe the power has a long-lasting effect? or maybe the power might even make her very strong and he wanted to get on her good side? ugh it's such a headache.

his mind snapped back to reality and he wanted to talk to her.

 He tried to move, but before he could react, Akio's foot connected with his stomach, sending him back to the ground. She stood over him, her heel pressed firmly into his chest.

"Stay down," she sneered. "Don't you understand? You're nothing now.

You've lost your magic. You've lost everything.

Akio:"You can't even be a student here anymore. and in this world, people who have no magic are trash."

 Kazuki's pride, his heart, and everything else were shattered. He couldn't move, couldn't speak. Tears burned in his eyes, and his voice choked.

 "Please..." he whispered, humiliated beyond belief. "Let me go."

Akio smirked, satisfied. She lifted her foot off him. "That's better."

Without another glance, she turned and walked away, leaving him broken and alone. 

 Kazuki lay there, tears mixing with blood on the ground, staring up at the sky. everything he thought he had, everything he could have done—it was all gone in a single moment.

With his body bruised and his pride shattered, Kazuki lay in the dirt, broken in both body and spirit.

 He had never felt so alone. The cold realization of his defeat gnawed at him. His power, his dignity, his status—they were all gone.

And then, through the haze of his pain, he saw the one person he least wanted to face in this moment: his mother.

She stood at the edge of the school courtyard, her eyes wide in shock, taking in the pitiful state of her son. 

oh god... how could he have forgotten, today his mom needed to come over for a parent-teacher meeting. And to top it all off it was at the worst possible timing. 

The students who were watching him all started to leave, instead of crowding him like they used to.

He saw Shawn and Riku and calmed slightly thinking they were going to comfort him. Instead, they both ignored him as well.

It couldn't be, 

...Kazuki: "They were my best friends, what the hell man...  he couldn't keep it in any longer and started bursting into tears like a baby....

It was humiliating yeah but right now he wanted nothing but to get out of this hellhole.

Looking back at his mother, her strong, resilient face crumbled as tears welled in her eyes.

She rushed to him, kneeling by his side and cradling him as if he were a child again.

She didn't care about the blood, the dirt, or the whispers of the students who watched from a distance. 

 "My boy," she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. "What have they done to you?"Kazuki couldn't even respond.

All the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat as she lifted him, carrying him home with strength he didn't know she had. 

He felt like a helpless child, unable to do anything but cry silently in his mother's arms.Two days passed, and Kazuki's body healed enough for him to walk again. 

The physical pain had dulled, but the emotional wounds remained fresh.

When he returned to Seiman High, the place that once felt like a second home now felt like the graveyard of his dreams

He was expelled. 

 The administration didn't even bother with a formal hearing. The shame of his defeat and the loss of his magic had already sealed his fate. To them, he was a nobody now—a failure unworthy of the school's reputation.

The same friends who used to laugh with him avoided him as if he didn't exist. No one looked at him. No one spoke to him. His name had become a ghost.

 Kazuki wandered the streets in a daze on his way home, his mind reeling. He had no purpose anymore.

His dream of becoming the strongest mage, of protecting his family, had crumbled into dust. 

His younger sister, who attended a school way more elite than him, was flourishing.

That thought was his only comfort—at least she was doing well. But even that was bittersweet.

At least one of us still has a future. 

 But what about him? What did he have to live for now?

He had become a background character in his own life, a footnote in a story he had once believed was his.

No girls looked his way anymore. No one even whispered his name. 

he sat at home with his mom during dinner, he was clearly devastated but he had never once in his life blamed or showed anger to his mom for how he turned out. 

She is someone who deserves all the respect in the world.

She was the only parent he had since they were three years and despite being poor he had never had a day he was hungry.

As he saw the food he thanked his mom while showing a little smile, her food was delicious like usual.

It always had a way of connecting the family together even when there were quarrels. 

He remembered a time he and his sister were quarreling because of misunderstandings but when we sat down there it all didn't matter and things were always going to turn out alright.

Mom's name: Kazushi

Kazushi: "I have something to give you Kazuki"

Kazuki was lost in thought but as he heard her voice he snapped back into reality...

Kazuki: yes mom?

She handed him a necklace, it had the shape of a star and was as beautiful as one too..

Kazuki: Why?

Kazushi: This is something your dad passed down to me... it was something he said to only give to someone in the family if he or she is facing a very huge problem..

Kazuki looks down on it... it was something from his father so obviously it was valuable so he immediately puts it on.

Kazuki: "Thanks, mom." 

But it was too late to fix anything, His once warm and open heart had turned cold, filled with mistrust. His life was a downward spiral, and there was no one left to pull him back up.

And then, the final blow came when his mother, the one person who had stood by him through everything, who had tried to make him smile with her cooking and stories, was taken from him. She was assassinated—murdered in cold blood. There were no clues, no motives. Just cold, senseless death.

 The world had robbed him of the last thing he loved. Kazuki screamed into the night.

"HASN'T THE WORLD TAKEN ENOUGH FROM ME?! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!"

he shouts like a maniac while punching the ground hard with tears.

 Now, Kazuki was truly alone. His once-promising future was nothing more than a faded memory.

He lived in the slums, in the shadows of the city's abandoned buildings, barely scraping by with his job at a convenience store.

 His once proud, athletic build had withered, and the gleam in his eyes had dulled.

He was a ghost of his former self, lost in a world that had forgotten him.

As he walked home through the alleyways, he heard mocking laughter behind him. 

A group of men stepped out of the shadows, their faces twisted in cruel grins."Oh, if it isn't Kazuki,"

one of them sneered, "The stupid brat who used to get in our way. Look at you now. You've fallen so low."

 Kazuki barely flinched as they shoved him against a wall, his body weak and thin. He had no fight left in him.

He didn't even care anymore. They beat him mercilessly, laughing with each punch, with each kick. 

Blood dripped from his mouth, but Kazuki just stared at the ground. His heart had grown numb to the pain.

"Piece of shit," one of them snarled, wiping his knuckles. 

"That's why your mother died—because you're useless. You have always been such a joker to us. How was that?

was that funny? because it sure got us laughing"Kazuki felt something inside him snap. 

He wasn't angry. He didn't feel rage. But there was something... a cold, steely resolve that had been buried deep within him.

His body moved on its own. He threw a punch, but it was weak, and the men laughed harder. 

 "If only we could kill you," one of them said with a sneer. "But we'd rather keep reminding you of how worthless you are."

They spat on him before leaving, their footsteps echoing as they disappeared into the night. 

 Kazuki dragged himself home, bloodied and bruised.

He collapsed onto his bed in the rundown building that barely passed for a shelter.

Staring up at the cracked ceiling, he felt the weight of his despair pressing down on him. 

Why? Why must my life be like this? What happened to me?

He turned his head and saw an old photo of himself—a happier version, one filled with hope and fire. He wept, but this time, the tears felt empty. 

He stared out the broken window, catching sight of a single star in the sky, twinkling faintly through the city's gloom.

If only... if only I could go back...He clasped his hands together, begging.

"I wish to return to my former self... I want my magic back... I need it. Please... someone... anyone... help me." 

 For hours, he lay there, pleading to the stars, but nothing happened. Exhausted and defeated, he finally drifted into a restless sleep, muttering, "I must keep living... for my sister. She'll be back soon... maybe she can help me..."

 But as Kazuki slept, the star he had prayed to began to fall from the sky, its light piercing through the darkness. His room was bathed in a blinding glow. His old, worn necklace—the one his father had given him before he disappeared—began to glow, too. 

When Kazuki awoke the next morning, he stumbled to the bathroom, his body aching from the previous night's beating.

As he brushed his teeth, his eyes fell on the glowing necklace around his neck. Confused, he touched it, feeling a strange warmth spread through his body. 

 "What... what is this sensation?" he muttered, feeling an unfamiliar energy stirring deep within him.

He raised his hand and tried to summon fire magic—something he hadn't been able to do since his defeat. For a moment, nothing happened. 

Then, a faint spark flickered in the air. It was weak, almost pitiful, but it was there.

It's not much... but it's a start

for the first time in what seemed to be forever, he showed a genuine smile although...

Kazuki's smile felt heavier than ever like he was trying to lift a weight that wouldn't budge. His lips twitched at the corners, struggling to curve upward, but every attempt seemed to falter. 

He thought of his mom and his sister—their faces, their laughter. They wouldn't want to see him like this, stuck in a moment of despair. He knew his mother's wish had always been simple: for him to be happy, no matter what life threw at him. 

And though the pain of it all lingered, Kazuki understood that he couldn't stay like this forever. A little sadness was okay, but he knew he had to keep moving forward. 

For her sake, and for his own, he forced the smile to break through, even if just for a moment. 

He had a long way to go, but it was enough.

Enough to reignite the fire in his heart.

Enough to give him hope. This is it... 

the beginning of my story

He then proceeds to look in the mirror again realizing his body condition right now and what he had lost during the past few weeks.

He sighs

It's time to get to work.

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