Boundless

Chapter 1: A Hard Enough Life.

Clay Blue stared out the classroom window, his mind miles away from the monotone droning of the history teacher. His fingers drummed rhythmically against the desk as he let his gaze wander to the sky, where he often imagined heroes battling villains in epic, gravity-defying duels. He wasn’t an athlete, nor was he popular; he was just Clay—an average kid with above-average intelligence. But in his heart, he was something more. He was a dreamer, someone who believed in the extraordinary.

His favorite hero had always been Pressure, the gravity-controlling titan who was always on the scene when danger struck. There was something about the way Pressure commanded the forces of nature that Clay found mesmerizing. He had spent countless nights watching videos of Pressure in action, envisioning himself standing tall beside him, wielding powers of his own.

"Clay!" The sharp voice of Mrs. Harrington snapped him back to reality.

"Uh, yes, Mrs. Harrington?" Clay straightened up in his seat, hoping she hadn’t noticed his daydreaming.

"Perhaps you can tell us the significance of the Aztec Sun Stone?" Mrs. Harrington’s eyes bored into him, challenging him to answer.

Clay’s mind quickly shifted gears. "The Sun Stone was used by the Aztecs to represent their understanding of the universe. It’s a symbol of time and space, showing the cyclic nature of the cosmos and the importance of the sun in their culture."

Mrs. Harrington gave a curt nod, seemingly satisfied, and returned to her lecture. Clay exhaled, his thoughts returning to the clouds outside. The Sun Stone was an impressive artifact, sure, but it was nothing compared to the medallion they’d be seeing later that day at the museum. The medallion, said to channel the power of the sun itself, was the centerpiece of the Aztec exhibit—a real connection to the past and a hint at the extraordinary power that once existed in the world.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the class, and the room buzzed with the sound of shuffling feet and chatter. Clay grabbed his backpack and made his way to the door, eager to get to the museum. He had a feeling today would be special, though he couldn’t quite place why.

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The museum was a blend of old stone and modern architecture, its grand entrance flanked by towering pillars that led into a vast hall filled with relics from ancient civilizations. Clay marveled at the displays as they moved through the exhibits, but his mind was focused on the medallion.

“Stay close to the group, everyone!” Mrs. Harrington called out as they approached the Aztec exhibit.

The medallion sat in the center of the room, encased in glass and bathed in soft light. It was a simple, circular piece of gold, adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to glow with a faint inner light. Clay couldn’t take his eyes off it. It was as if the medallion was calling to him, pulling him closer with an invisible force.

“Imagine having that kind of power,” Clay murmured to himself, his voice barely audible.

“Yeah, right. Like you’d know what to do with it.” The voice of Brandon Harris, a classmate and constant thorn in Clay’s side, cut through his thoughts.

Clay clenched his fists, but before he could respond, the lights in the museum flickered. The chatter of students turned to nervous whispers as the room dimmed.

“Probably just a power surge,” Mrs. Harrington said, though her voice lacked conviction.

But Clay knew better. There was something wrong. The air around him seemed to grow heavier, pressing down on him from all sides. He turned toward the entrance just as a group of armored figures stormed into the room. Leading them was a woman clad in sleek, cybernetic armor that glinted menacingly in the dim light. Her eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the room before locking onto the medallion.