Leaving the facility was a fairly simple process: your family was informed of your awakening, you were enrolled in the Academy of the Awakened, and you were scheduled for an appointment with a psychologist in case you had developed any mental issues.
The whole process went by quickly. Perhaps because I hadn't fully processed everything that had happened. Too much had occurred in too little time to understand it all; I needed a moment to return to normal.
Upon leaving the facility, I found a woman about 1.78 meters tall, slim, with black hair and hazel eyes. She wore casual clothes. She was the one sent to pick me up: my mother.
—Bell, come hug me —Mom said, opening her arms expectantly.Still a bit slow in thought, I went to fulfill her wish. She had been one of the people most worried when I tested positive for the spell, after all.
—Hello, Mom. —At that moment, I felt a strange sensation, as if that hug helped me cope, even just a little, with everything that had happened.
—Let's go home. Let's celebrate that you survived the spell.
After a while, we parted ways, got into the vehicle, and headed home. Nothing out of the ordinary happened on the way, except that Mom told me what had occurred while I "was asleep": most of it involved tasks for the bakery, "the family business."
Entering the door, everything felt nostalgic. Strange, because the last time I saw the house was just yesterday. I quickly ran up the stairs to my room as the rest of my family arrived for the party celebrating my survival of the nightmare. I planned to test the ability I had acquired.
I lay down on the bed and wondered how to activate it. Would I have to say its name?No, that wouldn't make sense. Awakened don't say the names of their abilities before using them. They never do.
(Maybe it needs a trigger?)
Something that activates it each time I use it… though first I have to figure out how to trigger it. That began my search, which lasted what I can only assume were a few hours.
After many failed attempts, I decided to give up and research online. I failed miserably at that too. Apparently, no other Awakened had ever had this problem… except me.
This was one of those times when being the first is not something to be happy about, especially since there was no clear solution. So it was up to me to find the answer, something I didn't personally enjoy.
—Bell, come down! You're the only one missing from the party!
Well, it was time to go down and maybe discover the trigger for the ability… and definitely change it once I found it.
As I went down the stairs and entered the living room, I saw my family and some friends waiting to celebrate my survival. I had to put my plan to test more triggers on hold.
—The "great" survivor has arrived —said a bastard who, unfortunately, I have the "privilege" of calling a friend as I came down.
He was a sturdy guy, about 1.73 meters tall, brown hair, brown eyes, with a poorly attempted beard. He wore a pink shirt and long black pants. To be honest, it was one of the best outfits I'd seen him wear. Not particularly impressive, but at least not a visual sacrilege.
As soon as I noticed him, a man came to hug me immediately. It was my father, Tom Shivers. Well… technically my stepfather, but that didn't matter then or ever.
He was short, about a "respectable" 1.63 meters, with dark brown hair and light brown eyes. He wore a light blue polo with gray pants; normal clothes, which meant he probably came as fast as possible.
Looking down, I noticed one of the things I had an issue with: his hair. He had a fade haircut, a style we had very different opinions about. I despised it with all my being, and he, on the other hand, claimed it was essential to win Mom's heart (who, curiously, never took sides in the argument).
—I'm glad you're back.
After a few seconds of hugging, it seemed enough to calm him, as he separated shortly after. As soon as I freed myself from his arms, I was pulled into another hug: my brother, Hans Shivers.
Hans was three years younger than me, which made him ineligible for the spell… at least for now. He was a mix of all the good traits from our parents: 1.73 meters tall, black hair, light brown eyes. He wore the school uniform, probably just arriving from the institute.
When I realized it was him hugging me, I returned the gesture. While doing so, I looked around to see if anyone else required attention. Fortunately, only friends remained —both mine and those of my parents and Hans.
—You know I'm not going anywhere right now, right? —I said, trying to free myself.
—Can't I just be happy you didn't die? —he replied, stepping aside.
—You can, but I also need to catch up with other people. You and I can talk anytime.
That seemed to convince him to let me go toward the bastard who, for the first time in his life, was dressed appropriately.
—Teo, has anything happened while I was away?
—Depends… are you going to continue studying gastronomy now that you're Awakened?
—I'm not Awakened yet. And if I do poorly in that, I'd rather not waste the year.
—You have an exam next week —Teo said, clearly intending to make me suffer.
—Please tell me it's not about balancing the smoked dishes.
—I assure you it's not smoked —he said, with a tone that clearly indicated he was lying.
—Have I ever told you I want to change my career?
—All the time —he replied with a smile, apparently finding my suffering enjoyable.