The first rays of dawn spilled over Misty Town, casting long shadows between the narrow alleys and cobblestone streets. The mist, usually thick and clinging like a damp cloak, had thinned just enough to reveal a fragile golden light—a fragile promise of a day unlike any other.
Lin stood silently near the wooden gate of their home, his gaze drifting over the waking town. The distant clatter of footsteps, the chatter of merchants setting up their stalls, and the soft murmurs of students gathering already filled the air.
Beside him, Silver adjusted the hem of her school uniform, her silver hair catching the light and shimmering like liquid metal. Her eyes, sharp and unyielding, scanned the horizon with a rare intensity.
"It's strange," she whispered, almost to herself. "How quiet everything feels. Like the world is holding its breath."
Lin nodded, sensing the weight of what lay ahead. The Awakening was no ordinary ritual. For some, it was the beginning of a glorious future. For others, a crucible that would burn away weakness. And for a select few, the start of something... unpredictable.
Their footsteps fell soft as they made their way down the path toward the town square, where the Awakening ceremony would take place. The streets were already alive with students clad in uniforms, faces etched with anticipation, nerves, and determination.
Jack Frie was there, a fire in his eyes that seemed to burn hotter than the morning sun. He laughed loudly with his friends, flashing a confident grin as he caught sight of Silver. His gaze lingered on her, unmistakably fond, but shadowed by a flicker of resentment as Lin approached.
Not far off, Stella Ling whispered with a group of girls, her expression sharp and calculating. Her eyes followed Silver with a thin veil of jealousy, and when they shifted toward Lin, a smirk curled her lips.
The crowd began to move toward the Awakening Hall, a grand stone structure nestled at the heart of Misty Town. Its arched doors stood open, beckoning the final-year students who were moments away from crossing a threshold none would forget.
Lin inhaled deeply, feeling the faint pulse of primordial energy humming beneath the ground. The air tasted electric, the silence heavy with possibility.
Silver caught his gaze and gave a small, resolute nod.
"Today, everything changes."
Lin's reply was barely audible.
"Yes. And we have to be ready."
The pair stepped forward into the gathering throng, where the light of dawn would soon give way to the fire of their true awakening as the students troop into the auditorium.
The vast auditorium was alive with low murmurs and shifting footsteps as the final-year students gathered. Teachers, healers, and school personnel stood at the edges, their faces a mix of anticipation and careful watchfulness. The air buzzed with a subtle energy, the kind that raised goosebumps on skin.
At the center of the hall, on a polished obsidian pedestal, sat a crystal roughly the size of a basketball. It pulsed gently with an otherworldly light, shifting between soft blues, pale greens, and faint golds—a quiet heartbeat of primordial power.
The headmaster, Kings, stood tall beside the crystal. His grey hair caught the dim light, and his steady gaze swept across the room. When he raised his hand, silence fell like a curtain.
"Today," he began, his voice calm but resonant, "marks the beginning of your journey as awakened. This crystal is an ancient primordial artifact, passed down through generations. It is the conduit that introduces the primordial energy into your bodies, preparing you to unlock the talents that lie within."
A student nearby whispered to his friend, barely audible:
"It's said this crystal tunes the body's natural resonance, allowing the talent to manifest with clarity and strength."
Headmaster Kings continued, "When your name is called, come forward. Place your hands on the crystal and remain steady. The colors it emits will reveal the nature of your talent—white for celestial, a spectrum of colors for terrestrial, and multiple hues for those rare special talents."
He glanced sharply at the crowd, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Remember, talent is but a seed. What you nurture it into defines who you become."
With that, the first name was called:
"Noah Hells, Class D."
Noah stepped forward, nerves evident in his posture, eyes fixed on the glowing crystal. Slowly, he reached out and laid both hands on its surface. A gentle hum rose, and after a moment, the crystal shimmered with a soft white light.
The hall held its breath.
A subtle gust of wind swirled around Noah's feet, barely perceptible but undeniable.
"Wind Spirit," whispered a teacher nearby.
"A low-key mid-grade terrestrial talent," someone murmured.
Noah's shoulders relaxed, a small smile breaking through his anxiety as he stepped down.
Next was a name that caused a ripple of whispers: "Rian Ember, Class C."
Rian strode confidently to the crystal, the crowd buzzing as he laid his hands down. The crystal flared bright red, and an intense heat seemed to radiate from Rian's form, his eyes gleaming with the fierce glow of a fire wolf manifesting in ethereal flames that curled just behind his back.
Beastman talent — rare and unpredictable — Rian's aura crackled with controlled fury.
Following him was "Lia Swift, Class B." A blur in motion, she barely touched the crystal before a streak of shimmering silver light danced across her body. Her talent—speed and agility—was evident as she darted back to her place before the applause.
The ceremony marched on. Various talents revealed themselves: earth manipulators shaping small stones, healers glowing faint green, illusionists shimmering with shifting colors, and others whose powers were barely understood even by the faculty.
The energy in the hall grew electric as the last class approached.
The final and most promising class—Class A—was called forward.
The atmosphere thickened, whispers turning into speculation. Everyone knew the true excitement, the future legends, were among them.
And soon, their awakenings would change everything.
---
The tension in the auditorium deepened as Class A, the school's most promising students, stepped forward one by one.
First was Claire. She moved with grace and confidence, her calm eyes meeting the crystal's glow. As her hands touched the smooth surface, the primordial light pulsed sharply, flaring into a bright, almost cold white.
From the light emerged shimmering ethereal chains—delicate yet unbreakable—wrapping invisibly around the air itself, binding the space before her and making the crowd instinctively tense.
A soft whisper spread among the faculty:
"Celestial talent… high grade. Mental bind and pain infliction."
The chains shimmered briefly with a ghostly blue hue, causing a subtle tightening sensation that seemed to grip the minds of those who dared meet her gaze.
Claire's talent was precise and dangerous—a mastery over invisible bonds that could restrain both body and will.
Next came Darius, a hulking figure who approached the crystal with a calm roar simmering beneath his stoic face. As his hands met the crystal, a golden light burst forth, coalescing into the towering form of a golden-back gorilla—the embodiment of strength, endurance, and raw power.
The crowd gasped as ethereal fur shimmered on Darius's shoulders, his beast spirit ready to surge with primal force.
Following Darius were five more promising talents, each briefly showing flashes of their unique powers:
Mira, whose hands glowed with emerald light, capable of manipulating life energy to heal or enhance.
Talen, who conjured a faint, flickering storm around his fists—control over electricity at a dangerous beginner level.
Eira, shrouded in swirling sand, able to command earth and stone with fluid precision.
Jax, a silent but sharp-eyed student whose talents hinted at unparalleled stealth and speed.
Vira, whose presence exuded an eerie chill, able to manipulate cold air and frost.
Each drew a quiet murmur of admiration and respect from the gathered crowd.
Finally, the name that sent a ripple through the auditorium:
"Jack Frie."
He stepped forward with a swagger, eyes locked on Silver in the crowd. His fiery aura flared as he reached the crystal, promising a display that would keep all eyes fixed on him,He placed his hands firmly on the primordial crystal.
Almost instantly, a fierce heat surged outward like a tidal wave.
The crystal's light flared violently—crimson and gold swirling in frantic rings that danced around Jack's arms and body. These were no mere flames, but concentric fire rings, orbiting him with deadly grace and power.
The temperature in the hall skyrocketed. Sweating students gasped; some stumbled back as the air thickened and shimmered with raw heat.
"Barrier—now!" Headmaster Kings barked, his voice cutting through the rising panic.
Teachers and instructors immediately focused their auras, weaving a protective shield that sealed the auditorium from the scorching blast. The shimmering barrier glowed fiercely, holding back the intense heat that threatened to burn everything within.
A dozen healers moved quickly among the crowd, calming those on the verge of collapse.
Jack stood unshaken, flames licking but contained, eyes glowing bright with the promise of destruction.
"This," the murmurs spread, "is a weapon talent. Rare and brutal."
The fire rings spun faster, trailing sparks that hissed and sizzled in the protective air.
Though the barrier held, the auditorium was left ringing with tension—an unmistakable reminder that some talents were wild forces impossible to ignore.
Jack smirked, eyes flicking toward Lin and Silver as he stepped off the stage. His gaze held a spark of rivalry and something sharper—challenge.
Silver caught his look and leaned toward Lin, a teasing grin playing on her lips.
"Looks like Jack wants to set the world on fire," she joked softly.
Lin's reply was a quiet shrug, eyes fixed ahead, choosing to ignore the provocation. He wasn't in the mood for games.
The ceremony pressed on, but compared to Jack's explosive awakening, the rest felt muted—quiet talents, controlled and refined, but lacking the raw spectacle.
Until Stella Ling mounted the stage.
She moved with deliberate grace, the subtle curl of a smile hinting at her confidence.
As her hands met the primordial crystal, a deep green light blossomed beneath her palms. Vines, elegant and sinuous, spiraled outward—wrapping the air like living ribbons. They shimmered with latent energy, weaving and pulsing.
Though no thunder or flame erupted, the intensity was undeniable. This was a high-grade special talent—one that controlled living vines, capable of both offense and defense.
The hall fell into a hushed awe.
Where Jack's power was wild and blazing, Stella's was precise and commanding.
Her awakening was a quiet storm that promised subtle yet devastating control.
As she walked off the stage and the awakening continues.
******************
The quiet of Ms. Rose's modest home was shattered by the sudden, heavy footsteps echoing through the hall.
The door burst open with a sharp crack, revealing Adam Shin—a figure carved from shadow and steel.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, with jet-black hair falling in sharp strands over a face hardened by battle and burden. His eyes burned with cold intensity, like molten metal forged in a dark fire.
His presence alone shifted the room's energy. The air thickened, charged with raw power and unyielding command. An aura radiated from him—a metallic pressure that seemed to bend the very atmosphere.
Adam's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Where is she?"
Before Ms. Rose could answer, he strode forward, every movement precise and threatening. His aura pulsed like a living forcefield, dark and heavy, suffocating in its weight.
The walls themselves seemed to shudder under his presence.
Ms. Rose stood her ground, her own fading ice aura flickering weakly, a testament to the toll her sickness had taken.
The room's energy peaked, a silent storm ready to erupt.
"What are you doing here, Adam, after all these years?" Ms. Rose's voice was cold, laced with steel as her aura began to rise, the temperature in the room dropping sharply.
Adam's eyes locked onto her, unblinking and unyielding.
"Where is she? I won't ask again." His tone was flat but carried the weight of a threat.
Ms. Rose's breath hitched slightly, but she stood firm, her icy aura swirling around her like a creeping frost.
"I don't want to hurt you. Step aside and hand over the girl and the fragment."
The house trembled under the growing tension as Adam's aura surged, dark metal fragments peeling from the walls, swirling in a deadly dance around his arms. The air grew heavy, oppressive, thick with power.
"Rank 49, huh? You've been slacking, Adam." Ms. Rose's voice held a bitter edge, her aura blooming in brilliant azure-white, frost gathering in sharp crystalline patterns around her. "Step back. I won't let her fall into their hands."
Without hesitation, Adam's arm shot forward as shards of metal swirled violently, forging into sleek gauntlets that gleamed with lethal intent. With a single step, he closed the gap between them and threw a crushing punch.
Ms. Rose reacted instantly. A shield of swirling ice erupted, a variegated wall of frozen crystal that caught the blow with a harsh crack. She twisted away, moving fluidly despite her frail appearance.
Sharp ice spikes exploded from the floor, launching towards Adam like deadly arrows.
Adam responded by rapidly summoning metallic plates that cascaded over his body, forming a shimmering suit of armor. The spikes struck his defense with thunderous clangs, shards splintering and shattering against the unyielding metal.
The two stood locked in deadly opposition—ice and metal clashing with a symphony of frost and iron. Each strike sent tremors through the walls; each parry echoed the storm of their shared past.
The room was a battlefield, the air alive with the crackling tension of two formidable forces unwilling to yield.
*************
The ceremony continued, students stepping forward one by one, their talents unfolding in quiet bursts or controlled flares. Yet none had prepared the hall for what was to come.
When Silver's name was called, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The crowd's chatter fell to a heavy silence, and a subtle tension rippled through the air.
She moved forward with serene grace, her silver hair flowing like liquid light. As she placed her hands on the primordial crystal, a profound energy surged forth.
More than half of the students felt an eerie quake ripple through their minds. The weaker ones faltered—some fainted, overwhelmed by a psychic tremor that radiated from Silver's awakening.
Above her eyelids and tracing below her eyes, intricate sigil-like tattoos of light emerged—ethereal patterns that glowed with mystical beauty. She was suspended mid-air, wrapped in the glow of primordial power.
Her eyes transformed—no longer mere orbs but vast, swirling wormholes that seemed to draw the very souls of those who dared meet her gaze.
As the awakening crescendoed, the hall was enveloped in hushed awe.
Then, slowly, Silver descended with a goddess-like poise, breathtaking and unearthly.
She returned to her seat without a word to Lin, her expression unreadable.
Closing her eyes, she slipped into meditation, focusing inward to quell the immense primordial energy swirling within her.
The weight of her awakening lingered in the air long after she sat—an undeniable signal that the world she knew was changing forever.