Riven was born beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Soft blue hair. Clear eyes. A face that made people pause.
But beauty, in this world… meant nothing.
Because in a world ruled by fear—
Riven was invisible.
No one feared him.
From a young age, people smiled at him.
Teachers treated him gently. Classmates laughed with him.
But behind those smiles…
They used him.
"Riven, can you do my homework?"
"Riven, carry this for me."
"Riven, don't say no… right?"
He never said no.
He couldn't.
Because every time someone raised their voice—
his heart trembled.
Fear.
It controlled him.
Now, at sixteen…
nothing had changed.
"Hey, pretty boy."
The voice echoed through the empty classroom.
Riven froze.
His fingers tightened around his bag as slow footsteps approached from behind.
Three of them.
The bullies rich brats
The same ones who always bulied him.
His body already knew what was coming.
"W-what do you want…?" his voice shook.
A hand grabbed his collar.
Hard.
"You're still acting clueless?" one of them laughed. "We told you to bring money today."
"I-I don't have—"
SLAP.
The sound echoed.
Riven's vision blurred as he fell to the ground.
Laughter filled the room.
"Useless."
" Raven's class teacher didn't do anything because this three kids are from a rich family he fears them as well"
"Only one girl was watching from first bench who doesn't fear them the school beauty she doesn't care whatever happens to raven because she doesn't want her hands to be dirtied for some stranger"
"Pretty face, empty head."
"Honestly, why are you even alive?"
Each word pierced deeper than the hit.
His body trembled.
Not from pain—
But from fear.
"Get up."
A foot slammed into his stomach.
Air left his lungs instantly.
He curled on the floor, shaking.
"Let's make him remember this time."
"Another one said what should we do this boy shall we play with his eyeballs or shall we use him as our punching bag"
Riven's eyes widened.
No.
Not again.
He tried to move.
Tried to speak.
Tried to resist.
But his body wouldn't listen.
Fear had already taken over.
Why…?
Why am I like this…?
Why can't I fight back…?
I am useless i can't do anything.
Another kick landed.
Then another.
Pain spread through his body.
But something else grew with it.
Something strange.
Something unfamiliar.
His heartbeat… changed.
Thump.
Thump.
THUMP.
The fear inside him—
was growing.
His parents face came to him he promised to himself i will face this fear
And for the first time…
it didn't feel like weakness.
A faint whisper echoed in his mind.
[Condition Met]
[Fear Threshold Exceeded]
Riven's pupils shook.
"…what…?"
The world around him slowed.
The pain.
The voices.
Everything faded—
except one thing.
His fear.
And then—
it exploded.
[Awakening Initiated]
The bullies paused.
"…huh?"
Something felt… wrong.
Riven slowly lifted his head.
His trembling stopped.
His breathing steadied.
But his eyes—
were different.
For the first time in his life…
Riven looked at them—
without looking away.
And deep inside him—
fear began to turn into something else.
Power.
To be continued…