The sun had barely risen when the forest awoke with a gentle hum of life. Birds scattered across the tall, dark trees, their cries echoing in the early morning mist. The field was still damp with dew, and the faint orange light of dawn touched the leaves.
Kael groaned as he turned on the grass, pulling his thin cloak tighter around himself.
"Why did you wake me up so early?" he mumbled, still half-asleep. "I need more sleep…"
A sharp smack landed on the back of his head.
"Wake up, you idiot!" the man barked, standing tall with arms crossed. His sharp eyes glinted as the morning light caught them. "You can't become stronger by keeping your bed warm. Strength comes to those who fight for it, not those who dream about it."
Kael rubbed his head, glaring. "It's only six in the morning…"
"Exactly," the man snapped. "Every second counts. You said it yourself—you have only about two years left before the Great Examination. And worse—you haven't awakened your power yet. Without awakening, it'll be almost impossible for you to get acknowledged by your power, let alone use it."
Kael frowned. "Then… how do I even get acknowledged by my power?"
The man let out a long sigh, then knelt so that his eyes were level with Kael's. His voice grew more serious, almost like a teacher addressing a stubborn student.
"Listen carefully. Do you know why people awaken before they gain their powers?"
Kael shook his head. "No… why?"
"Because if power was simply forced into every body, most would explode from the inside," the man explained. "A new source of energy rushing into an unprepared vessel—it would tear you apart. Only those with strong cores, strong bodies, can withstand it. That's why they awaken first. Their bodies synchronize with the energy, allowing them to use it safely."
He paused, studying Kael's reaction before continuing.
"But in rare cases—like yours—some people never awaken naturally. Their bodies aren't ready. For them, there's another way. They must be acknowledged by power itself. The power chooses them, adapts to their body instead of the other way around. Once that happens, the body reshapes itself to match the new strength."
Kael's eyes widened slightly. "So… if I'm acknowledged, I'll be able to use my power?"
"Yes," the man confirmed. "But that process takes anywhere between one to two years. You're lucky—you still have that much time before the Examination. That means from today, we'll focus on building your core strength. When your power finally acknowledges you, your body won't break. It'll be strong enough to handle it."
Kael gulped, suddenly feeling the weight of what lay ahead. "And… what if I fail your training?"
The man's lips curled into a wicked grin.
"Then consider yourself lucky."
Kael blinked. "Lucky? Why?"
"Because nobody has ever survived my training," the man said with a straight face.
Kael froze in horror.
But then the man suddenly burst into laughter, slapping his knee. "Hah! You didn't get it? I've never trained anyone before, you fool. That was a joke!"
Kael stared blankly at him.
The man sighed and shook his head. "How boring you are. Can't even take a joke."
Kael muttered under his breath, "This is going to be hell…"
The chapter ended with the morning sun rising higher, its light spilling across the forest as Kael's grueling journey was about to begin.