Legacy of the Unawakened

Scott Parker was seventeen, almost eighteen, and yet he felt more invisible than ever. Living in Millbridge, a small town where everyone knew everyone else's business, he had mastered the art of blending into the background. School was a daily routine of faces and voices that passed him by without much notice.

His two closest friends, Max and Jamie, were the only constants in his life. Max was loud, boisterous, and the kind of guy who could charm a room just by walking into it. Jamie, on the other hand, was quieter but sharp-witted, often serving as the voice of reason when Max's jokes went too far. Together, they formed a tight trio-but Scott knew the teasing about his love life was just their way of showing they cared.

One chilly autumn afternoon, the three sat beneath their favorite oak tree just outside school. The leaves had begun to change, painting the ground with a carpet of reds and golds. Scott pulled his hoodie tighter around his neck as Max flung a football toward him.

"Come on, Scott! Catch it!" Max shouted, laughing when Scott fumbled the ball.

"Hey, I'm rusty," Scott grinned, tossing the ball back with a little more confidence.

Jamie rolled his eyes but smirked. "You've been rusty for years, man. Maybe if you got a girlfriend, you'd get some practice."

Scott shrugged, feeling the familiar sting of their jokes about him still being a virgin. At seventeen, it wasn't exactly something he was proud of, but he also wasn't ready to rush into anything. "I'm waiting for the right person," he said quietly, almost to himself.

Max snorted. "Right, man. You're turning eighteen next week, right? Better hurry up before you turn into a fossil."

Despite the teasing, Scott felt lucky to have them. School wasn't easy for him. His parents were often busy-his dad working late shifts at the factory and his mom juggling two jobs to keep the bills paid. At home, he was mostly left to his own devices, which meant spending a lot of time alone in his room, scrolling through his phone or reading fantasy novels that transported him to worlds far from Millbridge.

That night, as Scott lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the weight of his upcoming birthday settled over him. Eighteen. An age where people expected him to have it all figured out. But Scott felt like he was standing on the edge of something unknown, a vast chasm that both terrified and intrigued him.

Little did he know, the life he knew was about to unravel-and something ancient and powerful was waiting for him beyond the veil of his ordinary existence.

---

Scott's mornings were the hardest. His alarm blared at 6:30 AM sharp, pulling him out of dreams that always felt more exciting than his waking life. His small room was cluttered with posters of fantasy landscapes and superheroes, a quiet testament to the worlds he wished he belonged to. His mother's gentle knock came through the door, followed by the faint scent of coffee.

"Scott, breakfast is ready," she called softly.

He got up, pulling on a worn hoodie, and headed downstairs. At the kitchen table, his mom smiled tiredly, handing him a plate of scrambled eggs. "You've got that big test today, right?"

Scott nodded, poking at his food. "Yeah. I just hope I don't blank out like last time."

She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "You'll do fine. You always do."

School was a blur of lessons and half-heard conversations. Max and Jamie found him near his locker after the last bell.

"You coming to the game Friday?" Max asked, grinning.

Scott shrugged. "Probably. Gotta study, though."

Jamie nudged him. "You need a break, dude. Don't turn into a bookworm."

The teasing was easy, but deep down, Scott worried he was falling behind. Not just at school, but in life. His parents often reminded him to think about college, future jobs, and responsibilities. But his heart wasn't in it-not yet.

That evening, the three friends met at their usual spot by the creek. The air was crisp, filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant laughter.

"So, still no girlfriend?" Max teased, tossing a pebble into the water.

Scott sighed. "Like I said, waiting for the right person."

Jamie smiled. "You'll find her. Just don't let us catch you skipping any chances."

Scott laughed, the warmth of friendship easing the loneliness he sometimes felt. But beneath the surface, a strange feeling was growing-a pull he couldn't explain. Something about his eighteenth birthday seemed important, though he had no idea why.

As the stars blinked awake overhead, Scott made a silent promise to himself: whatever happened next, he would face it head-on.

---

Days passed in the usual routine, but Scott found his thoughts drifting more and more. At school, the teasing from Max and Jamie was lighthearted, but sometimes he wondered if they truly understood him. They joked about his "innocence" like it was some kind of joke, but to Scott, it felt like a part of him he wasn't ready to give away-something he wanted to keep for himself, for the right moment.

One afternoon, Scott sat alone on the rooftop of the school building, watching the clouds roll by. His phone buzzed-it was a message from his mom: *Don't forget dinner at 7. Your dad will be there too.*

He smiled faintly. Family dinners were rare but important. They grounded him.

At home, the dinner table was quiet except for the clinking of cutlery. His dad, a stern but caring man, glanced up.

"So, Scott, have you thought about college plans?"

Scott forced a smile. "I'm looking into a few schools."

His mom chimed in, "Whatever you choose, we support you."

After dinner, Scott retreated to his room. He stared at the posters again-worlds where heroes lived and magic was real. He longed for something extraordinary to break his ordinary life.

Lying on his bed, the weight of his upcoming 18th birthday pressed on him. He felt like something was waiting just beneath the surface, something he couldn't see yet. But soon, everything was going to change.

---