Two more days had passed since Allan's final day at home, and East Gate High had reopened.
The announcement had come the previous evening.
After three days of investigation, military personnel had completed their examination of the school grounds. The rift within campus had been monitored continuously, and officials had confirmed that it was completely sealed.
There had been no further disturbances, and no additional creatures had emerged.
No signs of instability had been detected. According to the authorities, East Gate High was safe. Unfortunately, that statement did little to ease the tension hanging over the school.
Allan noticed it the moment he passed through the gates.
Security was heavier than before. Armed personnel stood near the entrances, and several areas of the campus remained closed behind temporary barriers. Construction crews had already begun repairing the damage caused during the attack, but there were still sections of the courtyard that looked nothing like they had before.
Students gathered in groups as they walked toward their classrooms, speaking quietly. Everyone had something to say about what happened. Some repeated information from the news. Others shared rumors they had heard from parents or relatives. A few insisted that the authorities were hiding something.
Allan tried not to listen.
He kept walking.
The memories were already difficult enough without hearing everyone else discuss them.The attack had happened only five days ago, yet it felt like just yesterday.
Allan had spent the first three days at home trying to convince himself that things were returning to normal. Jonah and Matthias had helped more than they probably realized. Their messages had given him something familiar to hold onto.
But the moment he stepped back onto school grounds, he remembered.
The destroyed courtyard, the screams, the helplessness, and those crimson eyes.
Allan pushed the memory away and kept walking. He didn't want to think about them.
Not here and not now.
By lunchtime, he finally found Jonah and Matthias sitting at their usual table.
Jonah immediately noticed him.
"Allan!" He yelled as he waved his hand.
Allan walked over and sat down.
"You look better," Jonah said.
"Thanks."
Matthias looked at him for a moment. "Actually better, or just better at pretending?"
"I'm fine." Allan said as he gave him a tired look.
Jonah laughed quietly.
"Still saying that."
"You keep asking." Allan said with a shrug.
"We're just making sure."
Matthias leaned back in his chair.
"Did you see the news this morning?"
"No."
Jonah pulled out his phone.
"They released another statement about the investigation."
Allan looked at the screen.
The headline concerned the East Gate High attack and the recently sealed rift.
"They're saying the rift has been completely sealed," Jonah explained. "They've apparently checked it multiple times since yesterday."
"That's good."
"Yeah."
Jonah hesitated.
"But they still don't know why it opened inside the school yet."
Matthias folded his arms.
"Or why that thing came through."
Allan's eyes lowered.
The Voranth.
Even hearing the words made his chest tighten. Jonah noticed his expression but didn't comment.
Instead, he scrolled through the article.
"They're also saying the investigation into the two assassinations is still ongoing."
"The principals?" Allan asked.
Jonah nodded.
"They still don't have any suspects."
Matthias leaned forward.
"My father said the military is treating the assassinations as connected to the East Gate incident."
"Why?"
"Nobody knows." Matthias shrugged.
Jonah shrugged too. "That's the problem dude. They're releasing almost nothing."
Allan looked around the cafeteria.
Hundreds of students were having the same conversation. Everyone wanted answers, but nobody had them.
Before the conversation could continue, the speakers mounted along the cafeteria walls crackled.
"Attention, senior students."
The room gradually became quiet.
"This is an important announcement concerning the Awakening Process."
Allan's attention shifted toward the speaker.
"The administration has completed its deliberations concerning the scheduled Awakening Process. Following consultation with the appropriate authorities, it has been determined that the process will proceed as planned."
A wave of murmurs passed through the cafeteria.
Jonah's eyebrows rose.
"They're still doing it?"
The announcement continued.
"All senior students are required to report to the designated examination area according to the previously established schedule. Additional security measures will be implemented throughout the process."
Allan listened carefully.
Then came the part that caught everyone's attention.
"Due to the recent incident, both the Vice Principal and Principal will be present to oversee the Awakening Process."
The announcement ended, and for several seconds, the cafeteria remained unusually quiet.
Then the conversations exploded.
Jonah stared at Allan.
"Both of them?"
Matthias frowned.
"That's never happened before."
"Exactly," Jonah said. "The vice principal usually handles it."
Allan nodded.
He remembered how the process worked. Every year, the seniors underwent their Awakening, discovering whether they possessed an affinity and whether they would become Awakened.
He still had another year before his turn.
Normally, that thought wouldn't have bothered him, but hearing the announcement now made him think about it differently.
One year.
That was all that separated him from his own Awakening.
He had spent years imagining what it would be like. Whether he would awaken an affinity. What ability he might receive. Whether he would be one of the students who discovered something extraordinary within themselves.
For some reason, the thought no longer felt exciting.
It felt distant, almost uncertain.
"Maybe they're just being cautious," Allan said.
"After what happened?" Jonah asked. "They better be," he continued.
Matthias wasn't convinced.
"Or maybe there's another reason."
Allan looked at him.
"What kind of reason?"
"I don't know."
Matthias glanced toward the cafeteria entrance.
"But if the military is still involved, and they're bringing the principal in this time, then something about the process must concern them."
Jonah frowned.
"You're making it sound worse than it is."
"Maybe." Matthias responded with a shrug.
The bell rang before the conversation could continue. As students began leaving the cafeteria, Allan stood with the others and headed toward class.
The rest of the school day passed slowly.
Teachers attempted to restore normality, but nobody seemed capable of completely ignoring what had happened. Conversations about the attack continued between classes, and every time Allan passed a window overlooking the courtyard, he could see everything happening again.
Still, the school was open, classes were continuing, and people were laughing again.
For everyone else, perhaps that was enough.
By the time Allan returned home, the sun was already beginning to disappear beyond the buildings.
He ate dinner with his family before retreating to his room. Once the door closed, the noise of the apartment faded. Allan sat on his bed and stared at the ceiling.
One year.
His Awakening was still a year away. Yet somehow, today's announcement had made him think about it more than he had in months. He wondered what would happen when his turn finally came.
Would he awaken?
Would he have an ability worth anything?
Would he remain weak?
Would he remain ordinary?
He couldn't stop thinking about how weak he had felt during the attack. He was at the mercy of that Voranth; had it not been for Principal Veyne…he didn't continue that thought.
Allan eventually lay down and closed his eyes. For several minutes, nothing happened. Then a familiar voice spoke from the darkness.
"You've been thinking about your Awakening."
The figure said as it manifested next to his bed.
Allan immediately opened his eyes and stared at it.
"You could have warned me, you know"
"About the attack? I did warned you." It said.
"You weren't clear enough" Allan narrowed his eyes.
The figure remained silent.
"I did tell you there was something there, and told you when to duck, didn't I?" The figure responded, "but mainly because there were things you needed to experience first."
Allan frowned.
"What things?"
The figure looked directly at him.
"I can't tell you yet. You need to figure it out on your own" it said.
Allan sat upright at that.
"What does that even mean? You said you'll protect me." He said urgently.
"I did." It said it took a slow step toward him. "And I have, but you must understand something."
"What?"
"My decision to approach and form that contract was not a coincidence."
Allan's expression hardened. "What does that mean?"
The figure's gaze remained fixed on him.
"It means I knew of you long before you ever knew I existed."
Allan said nothing.
The figure paused.
"And when your Awakening finally comes, you will fully understand why I chose to you."
Allan's eyes narrowed.
"You're saying this has something to do with my Awakening?"
"In part."
The room became completely silent. The figure looked toward the window before returning its gaze to Allan.
"But your Awakening is still a year away." It continued after a few seconds of silence.
Allan waited.
"So there is no need to rush." The figure's voice became quieter. "You have time to understand."
It paused.
"And I have time to explain."
"Then start." Allan said as he stared at the figure.
The figure remained silent for a moment. Then it finally spoke.
"Very well."
Its gaze settled upon Allan.
"Let me start at the beginning."