Spark in Darkness: Unworldy encounter/Prototype

Spark 8: Two people's past

"So, as everyone here knows, we Sparks can get weapons that can help amplify our power. What are they called and where can we get them, Haruki?" Geniya Zaki, master of the Zaki Taiyo school, asked.

A young man, from a row of other men sitting on the ground, stood up. He looked around at the handful of men around him, mentally ticking off names when he saw their faces. The school only had eight students, so it was easy to remember who was who. Taking a deep breath, he answered.

"Well, we can get these weapons from the Tree of Life. These weapons are called Torches."

Geniya gave a satisfied nod. "You got it right. Our school's custom is to see who is the most prepared to receive a Torch at the end of every month, and this time, I would like to say, I have found two candidates."

The students started to listen even more attentively, hoping their names would be called out. Haruki was the only one who knew he did not have that much hope. He had only been training for one month, and he was nowhere near the second weakest student.

"They are Shinesh and Hawk."

After the verdict was passed, those who did not get called slumped in disappointment, while Hawk was smiling from ear to ear. Shinesh, on the other hand, had a serious look on his face. Was it Haruki's imagination, or did he look slightly crestfallen?

After a few more sentences, they were dismissed. Haruki was about to approach Shinesh, wanting to congratulate him, but before he could open his mouth, Shinesh had excused himself.

Haruki looked up at the night sky, the stars sparkling. He had given up trying to make up the constellations, and settled with enjoying the stars. But this time he was disturbed. Something was wrong with Shinesh, and he wanted to know why.

"Concerned about Shinesh?"

Haruki heard a voice and turned around, only to see another young man in his twenties standing beside him. He was tall, with a chocolate brown skin and contrasting white hair.

"Hawk." Haruki said his name, before nodding. "Shouldn't you be happy if you can get a Torch? It's supposed to be your graduation certificate from this school, right?"

Hawk nodded. "Well, yeah. The thing is, this is the fifth time he has been nominated to receive a Torch."

"Ehhh? Fifth time? But doesn't that mean...?" Haruki was surprised to hear that.

"Yeap. He failed the previous four times."

Haruki could not believe his ears. To him, Shinesh was a strong man. The night he saved Haruki, and the days Haruki saw him train...it was quite impossible to see Shinesh being defeated by a test over and over again.

Hawk saw Haruki's surprised expression and smiled a little sadly. "Shinesh looks strong to you, right? Well, he is, physically, but mentally...not so much. He hady no talent whatsoever for a Spark, and he devoted himself to training to be one after his village was wiped out by Nayshards. One of the previous students rescued him and brought him here. I joined around the same time as him, and at the start he was this broken young boy. He refused to talk to anyone. But as time passed, as he managed to let his fists shine for the first time, he smiled. He slowly became a better person, but sometimes I could see the sorrow in his eyes. Childhood trauma can't really be overcome that easily, ya know?"

"I see...I never knew. No wonder he hated them. But still...what's the use of telling me all this?" Haruki asked.

"To get your Torch, you have to pass a test given to you by the Tree of Life. It would be more of a psychological battle to see if you are mentally strong enough to handle the Torch given to you. At least that is what I heard from Master Geniya and some of our seniors who dropped by to visit. This is my first time being nominated, so I wonder what it will be. But for Shinesh, maybe it was about his past." Hawk had a serious look as he gazed up at the stars.