Liam woke to hushed voices and morning light filtering through the shutters. The memory of last night flashed in his mind—a sky-splitting burst of violet light that struck him down. Heart pounding, he sat up and caught his reflection in a bronze mirror on the wall. His right eye had changed. A faint violet ring glowed around his iris, pulsing gently. It wasn't a dream. The S-class Essence "Eye of the Abyss" had marked him.
The floorboards creaked as his mother peered in, worry etched on her face. His father hovered behind her, eyes wide with concern. They had watched over him all night. "I'm alright," Liam murmured, though uncertainty knotted in his stomach. He felt different—like an unseen current now hummed through his veins.
Outside, villagers were gathering. Liam heard their anxious whispers through the thin cottage walls. Word had spread quickly about what happened. Taking a steadying breath, Liam pushed himself out of bed and headed for the door. His parents followed protectively as he stepped out into the morning sun.
Conversations died the instant Liam emerged. People he'd known all his life now stared at him as if he wore the face of a stranger. A few took cautious steps back. Old Maren the baker clutched her apron, eyes filled with equal parts fear and awe. A farmer pulled his young daughter behind him, hiding her from view. Liam's cheeks burned. He wanted to say something, to assure them he was still himself, but the words caught in his throat.
Suddenly, a familiar figure broke the frozen silence. Tomlin, Liam's best friend, jogged over and planted himself firmly at Liam's side. "What are you all staring at?" Tomlin shouted, voice cracking with indignation. "It's just Liam! He's not a monster." He glared around at the onlookers, daring anyone to disagree.
Liam felt a swell of gratitude for Tomlin's bold defense. The tension in the air wavered. A few villagers looked away, shame creeping into their faces. But others kept whispering. "No ordinary boy have eyes like those" an elder woman muttered from the back of the crowd. "Who knows what he is now…"
Each quiet word cut into Liam. He clenched his fists, struggling to keep his composure. As the murmurs grew, he noticed something odd—he could sense their emotions as clearly as hearing their voices. Fear hung thick like a bitter smoke. One man forced a shaky smile, saying "Glad you're alright," but Liam's gut told him the smile was false and the man's heart drummed with panic. It was as if the Eye in Liam's own head could see the truth behind any lie. The realization made him shiver.
Liam's father stepped forward then, placing a steady hand on his son's shoulder. In a calm but firm tone, he addressed the villagers. "It's been a hard night for everyone. Give the boy some space. We'll answer questions later." There was authority in his voice that Liam had never heard before. Slowly, people began to nod and disperse. A few mumbled apologies or awkward goodbyes as they retreated. Before long, only Liam's family and Tomlin remained in the yard.
As the last neighbors left, Liam finally released the breath he'd been holding. His mother pulled him into a tight hug, then fussed over him "I'm fine, Mum," Liam said gently. Aside from exhaustion and the strange new awareness, he felt intact—physically stronger, even.
Tomlin was hovering nearby, shifting from foot to foot. Liam turned to him, managing a small smile. "Thank you," he said quietly. Tomlin shrugged, trying to look casual, but his eyes were bright with concern. "What are friends for?" he replied. "I'm just glad you're okay. You... are okay, right?"
Liam hesitated, then nodded. "I think so. Just... a bit different." He tapped the side of his head, where the violet eye gleamed. Tomlin nodded in understanding, though neither truly understood what the Eye of the Abyss could do.
After a time, Tomlin headed home at Liam's mother's urging, promising to visit later. Liam's father squeezed the boy's shoulder once more before guiding his wife inside to let Liam rest. Finally alone, Liam stepped back into the house and closed the door. The cottage was quiet and dim, a refuge from all those eyes.
He wandered to his small bedroom and shut the shutters, plunging the room into near-darkness. In the stillness, he faced the mirror again. The violet ring in his right eye glowed softly, illuminating his face in an otherworldly light. Liam leaned closer, heart thudding in his ears. The sight was eerie and mesmerizing all at once.
Different, he thought, touching his fingertips to the mirror where his strange eye reflected. But still me.
In that dark room, the boy with the violet eye made a silent promise to himself. No matter what powers he'd been given or what fears the villagers held, he would remain Liam. As the violet glow pulsed gently in the mirror, he whispered into the silence, "I'm still me." And in the quiet that followed, he almost imagined the eye's light answering with a quiet, steadfast assurance.