Huff. Huff.
Adeon's heavy breathing echoed in the quiet room as he sat down, nervously checking the time on his SkyDrive.
11:50 PM.
In just ten minutes, everything could change.
Midnight would mark a turning point in his life, one that would decide whether he remained just another face in the crowd, clawing his way up from obscurity… or whether he would awaken and soar toward greatness.
In a world scarred by war, every human had two chances in their lifetime to awaken a Grimoire, once at the age of thirteen, and again at sixteen. Beyond that, no more chances. No exceptions.
And tonight, as the clock ticked toward twelve, it was his final shot.
It was why he had taken the night off from the small restaurant where he worked late shifts. He needed to be alone. Focused.
One might ask, why not just quit the job altogether?
Well... because if he didn't awaken, and the odds weren't exactly in his favor, he'd need something to fall back on. A lifeline to grab before the weight of disappointment dragged him under.
The Awakening didn't require a ceremony—no rituals, no offerings, no elaborate setups.
But that didn't stop Adeon from clearing out the living room, sitting cross-legged in the center of the floor, and quietly chanting in his mind:
'He is with me. He is with me.'
Over and over again. A mantra to hold his little faith
Images flickered through his mind like an old film recording.
His parents waving goodbye, his sister clinging to his side, their dad's hearty laughter as he promised to bring back beast bones as souvenirs.
The sharp yelp! when their mother smacked him upside the head for saying such a reckless thing.
The way he and his sister waited by the door on the promised day of return.
And then... the knock.
The officer's solemn expression.
The quiet, heavy words: "Missing in action."
He tightened his grip on the edges of his pants, grounding himself as the seconds crept toward midnight.
During the Terraforma Age, humanity had discovered far more than just sentient plants and expanding landmasses. One of the most world-shattering realizations was that the rift in the sky, once a dormant scar, was now open.
Fully open.
And anything could pass through it.
The government, armed with newfound technologies crafted from the technological breakthroughs after the discovery of the gaseous element Auron, formed elite expedition teams. These brave units were sent to explore the realm beyond the rift, confident in their gear and in their strength.
But they had all overlooked one critical question:
If humans could go in…
What could come out?
And come they did.
When humanity was least prepared, they arrived.
Monstrosities that dwarfed skyscrapers.
Beings with powers that could bend reality.
Creatures that made the mutated beasts of Earth look like harmless infants.
They came with full force.
And the world paid the price.
Cities lay in ruins. Nations fell one after another.
This devastating period in history would later be known as the Midnight-Dawn Era, a time when humanity stood on the brink of extinction… and yet, it also marked the beginning of a new dawn.
In the wake of overwhelming loss, scientists made a critical discovery: prolonged exposure to Auron—the mysterious gaseous element released by the Rift—could awaken Grimoires within certain individuals. These awakenings granted not only unique talents, but also the ability to tame powerful beasts.
From humanity's ashes, heroes rose.
They were warriors, but most importantly, ordinary people who defied death, fought tooth and nail, and pushed back the horrors beyond the Rift. It was their courage, their sacrifice, that bought humanity its second chance.
Thus was born the noble profession of the Grimoirer or Beast Tamer.
People who had awakened their Grimoires. People who could command beasts.
People who stood between annihilation… and survival.
Their parents had been Grimoirers. His sister had awakened too.
So he had to become one.
Not for glory. Not even for survival.
But to find them, the two people who vanished beyond the Rift.
He refused to believe they were dead.
No... he believed.
They believed.
Somewhere, somehow, his parents were still alive.
'DIING!'
The chime of the clock striking twelve rang out, sharp, snapping Adeon out of his thoughts.
He exhaled slowly, adjusting his posture. Fingers curled into his knees. Heart pounding like a war drum.
He whispered, more to himself than anyone else:
"It's time."
He waited.
Held his breath.
Crossed his fingers.
Focused every ounce of hope into the silence.
Please… just let me awaken. Even without an innate talent. I don't care. I just want to awaken.
The seconds dragged on.
Then a minute.
Then two.
Then three.
He glanced at his SkyDrive.
12:03 AM.
The light in his eyes flickered.
"Should I just give up?" he muttered bitterly, shoulders slumping.
"It seems… I'm not destined to be a Grimoirer after all."
Saying this, he slowly stood up, his movements heavy with disappointment.
Just then.
"DOON DOON."
A strange, thunderous thump echoed in his chest.
"Huh...? What's happening to me?"
He clutched at his chest, eyes widening.
"DOON DOON."
Another deep, pounding thud, louder, heavier, sent panic surging through him.
Then.
"URRGGGHH!"
A white-hot pain exploded from his chest, racing through every nerve in his body. His limbs locked up. His muscles screamed. It felt like his entire body had turned to lead, impossibly heavy.
He tried to cry out, but the energy to even open his mouth felt miles away.
His vision blurred. His knees buckled.
Through sheer willpower, Adeon staggered, step by agonizing step, toward the couch just a few paces away. Every inch felt like a mile. On getting to the couch he tried to throw himself into it when,
FLASH!
A brilliant light burst before his eyes, overwhelming his mind.
The world tilted. His senses dulled.
As everything faded into black, one final sensation pierced through the haze, a voice.
Ancient. Vast. Echoing directly into his mind:
"G...E...N...E...S...I...S."