HUFF HUFF
"Just one more... Just one more lap..."
Deep within a forest, a boy dressed in black pants and shirt ran at full speed, the wind from his momentum rushed through the trees, brushing past leaves and whipping around corners. His breath was heavy, his footsteps loud against the ground. Despite his aching calves and stumbling at sharp turns, he didn't dare to stop.
After a long while of running, he stopped in front of a house, placed his hands on his laps and gasped heavily almost as if his lungs were out of breath.
"Alright!" The boy shouted, dropping to his knees as he felt his body completely depleted of all the energy he had left.
"Kazu, breakfast is ready." A voice pierced through the silence from within the house, a second later, an unmistakable aroma filled the air.
There was no mistaking it — the rich, familiar scent of his mother's cooking drifted through the air, warm and comforting. Just the smell seemed to breathe life back into him.
With a sudden burst of energy, he leapt to his feet and dashed into the house, mouth watering, drawn by the promise of a meal only she could make.
"I made your favorite dish, fried chicken with a side of bacons, rice and salmon sauce. A special meal for a special boy." Her smile was as heart filling as the meal she prepared, it sent a warmth down his chest.
"But first." She pointed to the direction of the bathroom while pinching her nose with her other fingers. "You smell like a clogged sewer. Hurry up now, your brother has already gone ahead, you don't want to be late for school now do you.."
..
As he stared at the house, tears rolled down the side of his cheeks as he remembered that single memory vividly, his last encounter with his mother before she passed away.
And this house, was the last thing he had to remember his parents.
Hyomei Kazuki.
An average 18-year-old boy, just about 6 feet tall. He has a lean but muscular build, blue eyes, and soft white hair. His looks and intelligence were nothing special, but he still stood out a little because of his hair.
His grades? Pretty average, social life? Average as well. He had some acquaintances he often related with but not many he could refer to as a true friend.
His whole life embodied the essence of average, as cruel as fate was to him, it didn't stop there. His parents were killed by robbers who not only robbed them for all they had, but left both him and his brother as orphans left to fend for themselves.
And that wasn't all, few years after his parents death, his brother fell ill, diagnosed with an unpredictable disease that left him in a coma for months. Treatment was difficult especially since the hospital fees were beyond imaginable, but not impossible.
With a sniffle, he had his bath and rushed out of the house as quickly as his legs could permit him.
「Helix Academy 」
The Helix Academy stood like a monument to both wisdom and authority — sleek, towering, and carved from pale stone that glowed in the sunlight. Its walls were lined with silver veins, pulsing faintly with energy, as if the building itself was alive with thought.
Tall glass windows reflected the sky, while arches and spires reached upward, as though chasing knowledge itself. Quiet courtyards lay between the buildings, filled with strange trees and whispering fountains, where students read, trained, or simply dreamed.
"Yo! Kazuki!" As Kazuki approached the academy, a voice called out to him, sharp and loud.
It was Aiden, one of those he could truly call a friend, behind him were two other students, Mira and Kael.
"Aiden, your early, earlier than usual." He dabbed them dabbed both and wrapped his arms around Mira in a tight embrace, a sign of respect and a long term brotherhood and friendship cultivated through years of hardships, cooperation and trust.
"You're kidding right? Only a fool would be late today of all days." Aiden said with a burst of joy.
"You got that right, today's the day we've all been waiting for, not just for finally getting out of this hell hole, but we finally get to awaken! What talent do you think you'll awaken?" The hyperactive Mira shouted at the top of her voice, her smile as bright as the sun.
"Who knows, personally I hope I'll awaken a flame talent, that way I can burn all my worries and troubles. Hehehe."
Aiden let out a soft chuckle as they all approached the academy main entrance, its tall spires and glowing walls rising before them like something out of a story. The sight never failed to impress them, even now that the stakes were higher.
"Fire talent huh, that's nice."
"What about you Kazuki, what talent do you think you'll awaken?"
For a moment Kazuki remained silent, though he had asked the question first, hearing it turned back on him was a completely different story entirely.
Now, with the words aimed at him, the weight of them settled on his shoulders.
"Honestly, I don't know." He tightened his fist as his expression changed, he knew very well what he went through, the months of tearing down his muscles, months of physically torturing training he endured just to prepare for this day.
For Kazuki, the Talent Awakening ceremony was more than just gaining a talent, it was about saving the only family he has left.
What if it was all for nothing?
"Don't think too much about it Kazuki, but no matter what happens, it won't change the way we are." A bright smile illuminated Aiden's face, sending a shimmer of hope down Kazuki.
"You're right, guess I'm really overthinking it."
"What are you four doing over there!?" A loud voice called out, strong and clear, grabbing the attention of the two students as they talked.
A woman dressed in a sleek black suit with a pencil skirt approached them, upset by their presence in the courtyard of the academy. She was attracted by the loud noise the students made while talking.
"What are all of you doing here? Wait a minute, it's you four, good Lord, how are you late for your own graduation!?Normally I'd punish you for sneaking around but we don't have time for that, the ceremony is about to begin."
Her presence alone commanded respect. Every word she spoke carried the weight of authority.
This was Principal Elysia — the current head of Helix Academy, and a woman no one dared take lightly.
"Get back to the class now!"
Taken away by her authority, the four students left the courtyard immediately and ventured into the school through the main door.
Eventually, they found it — a simple door with a sign nailed above it that read [Talent Awakening Hall].
Pushing the door open, their eyes met the gaze of 25 other students, all seated in neat rows. The room fell quiet for a moment.
Resting at the center of the table was a medium-sized golden orb, glowing faintly under the lights — mysterious, silent, and clearly important.
"You're late, please take a seat." The man announced, instructing the two students as Principal Elysia entered after them.
They all occupied the remaining seats left, completing the final year class that were called here.
"Now that you're all here let's begin." The man cleared his throat, silencing the soft murmurs that filled the air.
"My name is Arthur Daemar, I'm an agent of the Essen-Mage's Association. First, I want to congratulate you on the successful completion of your highschool education, but I'm sure that's not what many of you want to hear, but before we can proceed. I'll have to inform you on what is about to happen, the process of your Talent Awakening."
"You've all awaited for this day. That means you have considerable knowledge about Talents, but how much do you know about it? Well it doesn't matter how much you knew, it's my job to educate you after all." Arthur spoke, his voice echoing throughout the classroom.
"We humans, we all possess something called a core, that core is the foundation of our being, however with that core comes the energy to keep it alive. Some call it will, but it's true name, is Essence."
Murmurs arose from among the students, they were all puzzled by his explanations.
"Essence?"
"That's right." His voice silenced the students, clearing the doubts in the air.
"Essence is what keeps our core alive by sustaining it, although we can't sense it because it is dormant in our bodies, providing only enough power to sustain our core. But do you know that this energy can be drawn to the surface?"
"Sir, how's that possible?" One of the confused students asked.
"That's where this orb comes in, this orb is referred to as the Talent Awakening Orb. It draws out an individual's essence to the surface and awakens what we call a talent, or more preferably Essen-Type. However this condition can only be fulfilled if the individual posseses enough essence to awaken an Essen-Type."
"Sir." A gentle voice arose from the back. A boy raised his right hand in the air, showing the proper respect to his elders unlike his classmates.
"What happens if someone with a high essence is unable to awaken a talent?"
"Oh?" Arthur stuttered.
It wasn't everytime he came across a student with sharp reasoning and such a high level of intellect to have thought that far.
"A scenario like that is highly unlikely, but if such should occur, the individual would most likely die. The job of the Orb Of Awakening is to draw one's essence to the surface, if one is unable to awaken a Essen-Type. He'll die of his energy depleting, like I said essence is the force that sustains our core. If it's completely diminished, he shall cease to exist."
His answer sent chills down each and everyone's spine, who knew awakening one's talent posed a great risk? Their only prayers, is to not fall victim to bad luck.
"That's all the information I can share with you now, we will now beginning the selection. Let the Talent Awakening Ceremony begin."