CHAPTER 30: CHAPTER 30: I’M USELESS

By the time Mina dismissed the class, Aiden felt as though his body had turned to stone. His candle sat in front of him, untouched by flame, no matter how hard he had willed it to light. He had stared at it until his eyes blurred and his head throbbed, sweat dripping down his temples, but the candle remained dark and cold. Around him, every other student had managed at least a flicker, even the ones Mina had earlier described as having only middle potential.

When the teacher gave her closing remarks, Aiden could almost feel the blow land straight on his chest.

"Like I said," Mina’s voice rang out, sharp and unapologetic, "potential does not mean anything. But I am starting to question if some people’s test results were even real. A high blood potential is not supposed to struggle this much. Someone who cannot even light a candle is not a high potential. Not in my eyes."

The words hit harder than any physical strike could have. Aiden’s lips parted, but no defense came out. His throat closed up. He just stood there, crestfallen, staring at the unlit candle as if it were mocking him. Mina looked over the class once more, her expression cool and dismissive, and then added, "That is all for today. Tomorrow we will continue, and I hope that some people will not remain such disappointments."

The silence that followed her exit lasted only seconds. As soon as the door closed, whispers began to rise from every corner of the classroom, and then those whispers swelled into open conversation.

"Amazing," one female student said with a mocking laugh. "Maybe he cheated during the test somehow. I have never heard of anyone cheating during the bloodline assessment, but if someone managed it, it must be him. We should hail him for finding such a way."

A boy across the room replied, his voice dripping with disdain. "Cheating is the only explanation. Even a low potential would not spend an entire class staring at a candle with nothing happening. This is pathetic."

Another voice joined in, harsher than the rest. "I said from the start he smelled too human. Everyone else here carries the scent of their bloodline, but him? He smells like a plain human. Tell me how a so-called person with three high bloodlines still smells like that. It is suspicious, and now we know why."

Laughter rippled through the room. Aiden could not bear to listen anymore. The walls seemed to press in on him, every word clawing at his chest. His face burned, not from anger but from humiliation so deep it made his stomach twist. Before he knew what he was doing, his legs carried him out of the classroom at a run.

Julian immediately sprang after him. At the doorway, Julian stopped for a heartbeat, turned back to the rest of the students, and glared. His voice was cold when he spoke.

"If any of you dare to speak ill of my friend again," Julian said, his eyes sweeping the room, "I will make sure every single one of you regrets it. If you think I am bluffing, go ahead and try me."

The room went silent at the steel in his tone. Without waiting for a response, Julian turned and sprinted after Aiden.

He caught up with him halfway down the hall. Aiden was still running, his breath coming in short bursts, his fists clenched tight.

"Aiden, stop!" Julian called. He grabbed Aiden’s arm and forced him to halt. "You need to calm down. Just stop for a second."

Aiden spun on him, his eyes wild. "Calm down? How can I calm down, Julian? Do you not understand? It is not just that I failed to light the candle. It is that I cannot feel anything inside me. Nothing. No spark, no pulse of magic, nothing at all. Every teacher keeps telling me to concentrate, that if I focus I will feel it. But I have focused until my head is ready to split, and still there is nothing."

His voice broke. "It is not because I have been human for too long. It is because I am a human. That is the truth, Julian. And the school made a mistake. Everyone thinks I cheated, and can you blame them? If I were in their shoes, I would think the same thing."

Julian tightened his grip on Aiden’s arm. His own face was etched with worry, but his voice was steady. "Aiden, listen to me. That is not the truth. I do not believe it for a second. Your case is confusing, yes, but that does not mean you are powerless. You just started. It is the first day. Do not give up now."

"I want to believe," Aiden said hoarsely. His shoulders sagged. "God, Julian, I want to believe. But tell me, how can I? I carry three bloodlines. Three. And yet I cannot summon a spark of Fae fire. I cannot feel the wolf inside me. I cannot even light a candle with witch power. Nothing works. So tell me, does that sound like someone with the highest blood potential in the whole school? Or does it sound like a fraud?"

Julian’s heart clenched at the desperation in his friend’s voice. He stepped closer, his tone firm but gentle. "It sounds like someone who is still finding his footing. That is all. Give it time. A week, at least. Promise me you will not give up before then."

Aiden looked away, pain clouding his eyes. "I am starting to regret ever coming here. I cannot believe I put myself in this mess for someone who never cared about me in the first place."

Julian shook his head. "Do not say that. You are here now, and we will face it together. Just wait a week. Do not make any decisions yet."

Aiden exhaled slowly, the fury leaving him, replaced by weariness. After a moment, he gave Julian a weak smile. "You know, five months ago my biggest problem was planning my eighteenth birthday. I used to sit around worrying about who I should invite, what music to play, what kind of cake to order. I never imagined I would be drowning in supernatural problems instead."

Julian blinked in surprise. "Wait, when is your birthday? You never told me."

Aiden rubbed the back of his neck. "Honestly, with everything going on, I had forgotten about it myself until now. It is in two months."

Julian’s face brightened. "Then we will celebrate. We will be busy during the day with classes, but we can throw a night party. Just us, even if it is small."

Aiden chuckled bitterly. "If we can find anyone who would want to party with me, the useless human with three worthless bloodlines."

Julian slung an arm over his shoulders and pulled him close. "Do not say that. Your power will come, Aiden. You are not useless. Remember that."

Aiden nodded, though doubt still lingered in his heart. Together, they walked back to their dorm.

When they entered the apartment, Aiden paused in the living room. "Julian, do not call me for dinner tonight. I am not hungry. Everyone will just be talking about me anyway." Without waiting for an answer, he disappeared into his room and shut the door.

Julian stood there for a long moment, his face tight with concern. He wanted to argue, to reassure Aiden more, but he knew pushing him now would only make things worse. So he let him be and went quietly into his own room.

The next morning, Aiden rose before dawn. The sky was still dark, and the halls were silent. That was exactly how he wanted it. He had overheard from Julian that the kitchen staff began their work very early, so he decided he would eat before the dining hall filled with students. Anything was better than facing their whispers and stares again.

He bathed, dressed, and made his way to the dining building. The hall was empty, its long tables standing quiet in the shadows. He could hear faint noise coming from behind, and when he followed it, he discovered a door that led to the kitchen.

The moment he stepped inside, several people turned to stare at him. They were not students or teachers. They were ordinary humans, moving briskly between stoves and counters. The one who seemed to be in charge, a man with graying hair and a flour-dusted apron, frowned.

"Student, what are you doing here so early? Breakfast is not ready. You need to come back later."

Aiden stepped forward, hands raised slightly. "Please do not send me away. I am Aiden. I... I can help with the preparations. Just let me stay."

The chef looked startled. "Help us? Why would a Skyline Academy student want to mix with humans like us?"

Aiden blinked. "Humans? You are all human?"

The chef raised a brow. "Of course. You did not know?"

Aiden shook his head slowly. "I thought humans were not supposed to know about supernaturals."

The man let out a dry laugh. "Our ancestors were slaves, captured in wars centuries ago. We were bound to serve this school, with no hope of redemption. For us, these walls are all we have ever known. Some are allowed out now and then, but most of us remain here until we die. That is our fate."

Aiden’s chest tightened. "I... I did not know. I am new here. And honestly, I consider myself human too. I never expected to find others like me here."

The chef gave him a long look, then shook his head with a small chuckle. "Do not lie, boy. If you were human, you would not be wearing that uniform."

Aiden glanced down at himself, at the embroidered Skyline Academy crest on his chest. He sighed. "I am not lying. I really am human."

And then, haltingly, he explained his story. The bloodline test, the supposed three high bloodlines potential, his failure in every class. The chef listened in silence, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

When Aiden finished, the man gave a harsh laugh. "You are a fool. Do you know that? A downright stupid fool. All this mess, all this pain, just because of a boy you liked? You threw yourself into this nightmare for someone who never cared for you?"

Aiden’s mouth twisted into a small, weary smile. "I already know I am stupid. You do not have to remind me."

The chef studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "Well, stupid or not, you are here now. So, if you really want to help, grab that knife and start chopping those onions. Let us see what use you can be."