"Wakey wakey."
A loving voice could be heard from downstairs, calling to the sleeping boy buried under double bedsheets, trying his hardest to escape from the voice that had been haunting him for the last ten minutes.
"AARRGHH! Five minutes, just five more minutes…"
No matter how many shields he covered himself with, the angelic voice of his mom could still penetrate his dreams, pulling him from that sweet, sweet sleep.
Surrendering to the inevitable, Varen Locke, a boy of sixteen this year, slowly removes his covers, unwillingness and reluctance clear in his actions.
The early morning sun slipped through the already opened windows, laying warm golden stripes across the room. The moment he uncovered himself, the light rushed in like it had been waiting for its chance. He let out a sigh of mock frustration. After a brief, half-hearted resistance, he finally swung his legs over the side of the bed, his bare feet brushing the cool wooden floor. A yawn stretched across his face as he rubbed at his eyes.
"Hurry up! Breakfast is cold already!"
His mother's voice rang out again, noticeably closer.
'I really only have five minutes this time.'
Varen could tell just from the distance of her voice that she would barge in if he didn't move.
Seeing the mess he'd made yesterday while playing, he rushed to hide the evidence before slipping into the bathroom. He dragged a hand across his messy black hair, turned on the tap, and let the cool water run before splashing it onto his face, wincing at the shock. Droplets clung to his skin, glinting in the morning light. He brushed his teeth with slow, deliberate strokes, occasionally glancing at his reflection. A playful smirk appeared as he tried styling his hair into wild spikes, only to shake it back down a second later, amused at himself.
Varen walked out of the bathroom after his morning routine was done, switching to a more presentable outfit for school, he went downstairs to join his father and mother for breakfast, humming a tune along the way.
Varen walked to the living room, a medium sized room filled with an abundance of furniture, making the room warm and cozy. The most striking feature was the wall of paintings on the right: fantastical animals captured in vivid detail. Varen always paused at them. He longed to see these creatures in real life, even if that thought alone was considered dangerous.
The animals illustrated are bizarrely shaped, A gigantic bird with a wingspan nearly twenty meters soared over a vast canyon, observing his prey on the ground, his prey clearly reflected in his sharp eyes.
Another painting depicted a colossal mastiff, large enough to rival a small hill. Flames danced through its mane, and fiery pits smoldered in the wake of each step it took.
The paintings clearly described fantastical animals only found in fairy tales, but they are actually real , and sightings of these animals was confirmed from trusted sources.
As Varen approached the dining table, he found his father sitting in the main seat, already finished his food, quietly listening to the news reporter on the TV.
"…the pursuit of the recently infamous criminal is still ongoing. Civilians in Lumenharbor city should remain cautious. The suspect escaped near the southern district. His ability has been appraised as Second Tier. Authorities advise residents to use government-supported transport facilities and—"
bZZZZttT!
The sharp buzz of the TV switching off cut the report short. Varen noticed immediately that his father had turned it off on purpose as soon as he walked in.
"Why did you turn it off? I wanted to know his ability."
"That's not something ordinary people like us should worry about," his father replied with his usual calm, steady tone.
"But what if I awaken an ability? Shouldn't I at least know the basics?"
"Our Locke family has never had a single awakened member. Your chances are zero." His father crushed his hopes without a flicker of hesitation.
"Your food is getting cold. When are you planning to eat?" his mother cut in, smoothly changing the subject.
He was right, after all. Their family was like the overwhelming majority: normal people, no awakened ability ever recorded in their lineage.
" we're already late as is, you're dinner is on the counter, don't forget it. Also we may be home late today. The latest research project is reaching its final stage, so we need to push through. If it takes all night, don't worry and just sleep"
Varen wolfed down his food, mumbling his response. He was used to this routine.
His parents were important researchers at a Biomechanics Research Center, and their long work hours were common whenever a project hit a breakthrough. Varen didn't mind. He was used to it, and some alone time wasn't unwelcome.
"Got it. Take care. Love you, Mom. See you later, Dad."