The hall slowly lost its noise.
Most of the children had finished awakening. Some lay flat on the floor, arms spread, staring at the ceiling. Others sat on their cushions, leaning forward with elbows on their knees, breathing heavy as they spoke in low voices about their Cognis levels.
Cold air drifted through the wide hall. It brushed against damp skin and soaked clothes. Despite the strain, it seemed no one had failed to reach the cutoff mark. Every child present had already drunk the elixir.
Priscilla stood still, arms crossed, eyes moving through the hall. Her gaze stopped on Vera.
Vera sat, legs folded quietly, her posture straight. Sweat slid down her cheeks and dropped from her chin to her chest. Her shirt clung to her body tight, darkened from the damp. A few boys nearby noticed without meaning to, their eyes drifting her way before pain forced them to look elsewhere. Their bodies still ached too much to react.
"Tsk."
Priscilla clicked her tongue and turned her head away.
Her eyes dropped to the floor.
Pamela lay there, chest rising and falling fast. Her hair stuck to her face. A grin slowly spread across Priscilla's lips.
"Follow me, Nate," Priscilla said as she straightened.
Nate hesitated. His legs trembled when he stood, but he followed her anyway.
They stopped in front of Pamela.
"You look miserable, Pamela," Priscilla said, laughing softly.
Pamela opened one eye and glared up at her. Her jaw tightened.
"How are you even able to walk?" Pamela asked. "Are you sure you managed to awaken?"
"Of course," Priscilla replied with a smirk. She rolled her shoulders. "I'm very strong. There's no way this would make me weak… unlike you."
She chuckled.
Pamela let out a tired breath. She waved her hand lazily.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say. Now be on your way."
Nate stepped forward slightly. "From the presence your Cognis gives off," he said calmly, "you're only a half-star."
Pamela's eyes snapped open. She pushed herself up, sitting upright despite the pain.
"And who are you?" she asked coldly. Her gaze swept over him. "Never seen you before. Lowline?" Her eyes lingered on the color of his pupils. She smirked. "Priscilla, don't tell me you're mingling with lowlines now because no one in the highline likes your guts."
Priscilla flinched. The words struck deeper than she expected.
"What do you mean no one likes my guts?!" she snapped. "Both Niki and Mira are on my team!"
"That's obvious," Pamela replied without missing a beat. "Aren't they your fan girls?"
She laughed.
"Fan girls?!" Priscilla bristled, then forced herself to calm down. She straightened and lifted her chin. "Forget that." She shook her head. "Do you think I need anyone from the mainline to strengthen my team?"
She looked at Pamela boldly.
"No. I don't need them when I have Nate."
She puffed her chest. Nate stared at her with a flat look.
"This lowline is your trump card?" Pamela asked, unimpressed. "Should I be shocked or something?"
"What's with that look?" Priscilla glared.
Nate lightly tapped her shoulder. "Let's go. Everyone's done. We should leave so we can clean ourselves and rest well for tomorrow."
"Huh…oh. Fine," Priscilla replied, still annoyed.
As they walked away, Nate glanced back.
"Pamela, right?" he said firmly. "Your team should prepare."
Then he followed Priscilla.
Pamela watched them leave, her lips pressed tight.
"Who does he think he is…?"
"Pamela."
Cale approached, limping. Nile supported him from one side. Jimmy followed behind, walking stiffly.
"You guys are done?" Pamela asked. Her tone softened. "How did you do?"
"Well… none of us reached Full Novice yet," Cale said, scratching the back of his head.
"That's fine," Pamela replied. "At least you didn't fail the cutoff."
Jimmy looked around. His eyes moved from Nina to Zack, then to Vera.
"How long do you think the others will take?"
"Maybe tomorrow," Nile said before dropping to the ground, exhausted.
"We should go rest," Pamela said. "Meet back here tomorrow. I'll still check on Vera later before going to rest."
"Okay," they all replied.
Pamela stood and walked toward the rest of her group to pass the message along.
***
The next day came.
Those who had finished awakening gathered back in the hall. Some leaned against pillars. Others sat quietly, waiting.
Lyra and Page finished almost at the same time, along with the rest of Felix's group. They rested while waiting for Felix and Gareth.
Gena struggled.
Her breathing grew uneven. A sharp cry escaped her mouth, drawing attention.
How long has it been?
Am I doing this right?
My star isn't forming cleanly.
I can't pull more Cognis.
Is this all I can do?
Her body shook. Pain flooded her nerves. Sweat soaked her clothes.
"All that effort…" her thoughts scattered. "Was it all wrong?"
"Hey, what's wrong with her?" a boy from her group whispered.
"With that shift in her Cognis," a girl replied nervously, "her star fragment could shatter. She might explode."
"Gena will be fine, right?" Nina asked quickly.
"She only has herself to rely on," Zack said, arms folded.
Minutes passed.
Gena finally stabilized. Her breathing slowed.
She opened her eyes.
The hall spun.
She tried to move—and collapsed.
Several members rushed forward and carried her toward the infirmary.
Not long after, Felix, Veda, and Vera opened their eyes, one after another.
Felix was the first to move. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms, joints cracking softly. Then he turned his head to the side.
Gareth had finished as well.
Felix smirked when he saw him. His eyes shifted forward to his group standing nearby.
"You all look good," he said.
"Felix!"
Lyra rushed toward him without thinking. Her arms lifted, but she never reached him.
Freed grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back. His long white ponytail swayed as he stepped between them. His green eyes stayed calm.
"Control yourself, Lyra," he said.
Lyra struggled once, then stopped, pouting as she folded her arms.
Gareth stepped closer; eyes focused on Felix. "Your energy is strong," he said, nodding once. "Stronger than before."
Felix let out a short laugh. "Well, I am the best." He tilted his chin up slightly, then glanced toward the other side of the hall. "Still, I do wonder about Veda and Vera."
"Don't worry," Page said at once, smiling wide. She leaned forward, hands on her hips. "With our strength now, we'll stomp them."
Felix didn't answer. His gaze lingered for a moment longer before he looked away.
Vera stood up.
Her group stiffened the moment she moved.
Several of them leaned forward, hands half-raised, like they were ready to catch her if she fell. Their eyes stayed locked on her steps, tense and careful.
But she walked forward without pause.
Her posture was straight. Her breathing was steady. There was no sign the awakening had strained her at all.
She stopped in front of Zack.
"Status," she said.
Zack pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Some fainted after awakening," he replied. "The rest are still here."
Vera's eyes swept across her group. She watched their breathing. Their posture. The faint flow of Cognis around them.
"From what I see," she said slowly, "about ten of you are half-Novices." Her gaze sharpened. "Only three are Full Alchemists."
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
Then she nodded once.
"Good job, Zack." She reached out and tapped his shoulder with two fingers. "You're a Novice Alchemist. A Full one."
Zack straightened at once. His back stiffened. A grin broke across his face.
"Thank you," he said.
Vera stepped back and stretched, raising both arms above her head. Her spine popped softly.
"Ahh," she let out. Then she tilted her head to the left, eyes half-lidded. "I'm so tired."
"I get you," Pamela replied, rubbing her neck.
Vera's gaze drifted away from her group. She looked toward the children who still hadn't finished awakening. Some sat frozen. Some shook. Some bit down on their sleeves to stay quiet.
She clicked her tongue.
"This is boring," she said. "What are they still doing? Awakening isn't that hard."
No one answered.
But the thought passed through every mind in her group at the same time.
You took more than a day.
Vera tilted her head to the right. A small frown appeared between her brows.
"This boy…" she muttered.
Her eyes landed on Ezra.
Ezra's shoulders tensed.
I think I might be in trouble.
His teeth clenched hard. Too hard.
A sharp taste filled his mouth. A thin line of blood slipped from the corner of his lips and dropped to the floor.