Chapter — The Gloves Beyond Reach
The classroom was unusually quiet, but Luke's thoughts were louder than ever.
He sat beside Marin, pretending to listen to the lecture, but his eyes kept drifting to her hands. Empty. No gloves. Just normal sleeves resting on the desk.
During a short pause, Luke leaned slightly toward her and lowered his voice.
"Marin," he asked carefully, "about those suppressor gloves… have you bought them already?"
Marin blinked, then nodded lightly. "Yeah. I booked them when we were planning the guild."
Luke's heart tightened. "Do you have them now?"
She shook her head. "No. They're in extremely high demand. Limited supply. Only a few are released each week." She smiled faintly. "I think mine will arrive today, though."
Luke exhaled silently.
So she doesn't have them yet.
That meant something important—Marin didn't know the secret. The teacher hadn't told anyone. Not even a registered Aura Creator like her.
Luke stared at his notebook, pretending to write.
Even if I want gloves… I can't buy them.
Not because of money.
Because of identity.
Only Aura Masters, Creators, and Destroyers could legally purchase them. Luke was officially an Average One-Star. To the system, to the government, to the world—he was nothing special.
And yet…
He clenched his fingers slowly.
I'm the most restricted existence in this world.
As the final bell rang and students left, Luke walked home with heavy thoughts. By nightfall, his decision had already formed.
If he couldn't buy the gloves as an average…
Then he would buy them as something else.
---
America.
To others, it was halfway across the world.
To an Aura Master, it was just distance.
Aura Masters were unique—not only in power, but in movement. Aura Creators and Destroyers could hover or glide, but true flight belonged mainly to Aura Masters. In America, some Aura Masters had already demonstrated flight speeds approaching Mach 20.
Luke knew the truth.
That's not the limit.
An Aura Master, unrestricted, could reach Mach 50.
Which meant—
The USA isn't far at all.
Late at night, Luke stood in his room, heart pounding. He changed into dark clothes, light and flexible. He wrapped a mask over his face, covering his features completely.
If someone sees me… they can't identify me.
He stepped onto the balcony.
The night wind brushed his skin.
Luke closed his eyes and felt the aura inside him—vast, silent, terrifying.
Just enough, he thought. No more.
The air bent.
And Luke vanished.
---
New York.
Daylight.
Luke stood on the rooftop of a tall building, crouched low. The city stretched endlessly before him—cars like ants, people unaware that something unnatural had just arrived above them.
He didn't remove his disguise and make a get over like Citizen there.
Only one shop, he remembered. Only one.
From a distance, he spotted it—a modest-looking store, heavily guarded, hidden among ordinary buildings. No signboard. No advertisement.
But Luke could feel it.
Aura technology.
He landed silently across the street and approached carefully, then stopped near a side window.
Peering inside, his breath caught.
Gloves.
Several pairs, displayed behind reinforced glass. Dark, smooth, humming faintly with controlled energy.
That's them.
Luke's pulse quickened.
The shopkeeper stood behind the counter—a middle-aged man with sharp eyes. He wasn't normal. His aura was dense, disciplined.
Someone entered the shop.
"I want suppressor gloves," the customer said confidently.
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. "Rank?"
The customer displayed a panel.
Aura Creator – 2 Star
The shopkeeper nodded and began explaining prices.
Luke's jaw tightened.
So that's how it works.
Then—unexpectedly—the shopkeeper's gaze shifted.
Straight toward the window.
Toward Luke.
"Hey," the man barked sharply. "You there. What do you want?"
Luke stepped inside.
"I want the gloves," he said calmly, voice disguised.
The shopkeeper's eyes narrowed. "Rank."
Luke raised his hand.
A panel appeared.
Average – 1 Star
Silence.
Then—
"Get out."
The shopkeeper's voice was cold. "Don't stand here if you can't buy."
Luke didn't move.
"You think this is a museum?" the man snapped. "Average ones aren't allowed here. Leave."
Several customers turned to look.
Luke felt something stir inside him—anger, humiliation, fear.
If I reveal myself… everything ends.
Slowly, he turned and walked out.
The door shut behind him.
Luke stood in the sunlight, fists clenched.
So that's it.
Money wasn't the problem. Distance wasn't the problem.
The system itself was the wall.
He looked up at the sky.
I can cross countries in minutes… but I can't cross a rule.
His mind raced.
Force? Impossible without exposure.
Reveal myself? Never.
Steal? Too risky but only way.
Then a darker thought surfaced.
I have to come here at night I do not want to reveal my self and If stealing something is the way I will do that.
And as the city continued its normal rhythm, an Aura Master stood silently among humans—thinking not like a hero, but like a survivor.
I will get those gloves.
No matter how.
---
End of chapter.