Stonebridge.
In the third high school of Stonebridge, by the window of a certain classroom, a dark-skinned boy sat with his chin resting in one hand. His name was Lucian Vale, and he was currently staring out at the chaotic classroom with bored eyes.
They were now in their final year of high school. The students, just returning from their break, were still deep in holiday mode, utterly unprepared for the reality that the semester had begun.
"You little bastard, what the hell did you do over the break? Got so damn tan!"
After fooling around with a few classmates, Lucian's deskmate plopped back into his seat and sized him up with a look of exaggerated shock.
"Worked a job…"
Lucian Vale came from a poor family. Both of his parents were factory workers, and he had two younger brothers at home. With just their meager wages, supporting a family of five was already a struggle.
So during the break, Lucian—now a senior—had taken a job at a construction site to earn some money and help out with expenses.
"You really did manual labor?!"
"What else? Look at these muscles."
As he spoke, Lucian rolled up his sleeve and flexed his arm, showing off the results of a summer spent hauling bricks. His muscles bulged and tightened under the strain.
"Whoa!"
His deskmate reached out to feel them, visibly envious.
"Guess where I went over break?" the boy said next, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret.
"Where?"
Lucian leaned back lazily against the desk behind him, body relaxed, eyes half-closed, and replied with a disinterested tone.
He knew this guy too well. Just from the way his butt shifted in the chair, Lucian could tell whether he was about to fart or go take a dump.
Right now, he was clearly gearing up to brag. If Lucian didn't let him get it all out, it'd probably feel like he was constipated after three days of holding it in.
"My dad signed me up for a wilderness survival camp. Trained for a whole month. I feel like I'm super strong now!"
The boy grinned wide, practically radiating pride.
"What, planning to head into the Ethereal Plane already?" Lucian quipped, shifting his position again to lean against the wall, propping his head up with one hand.
"Damn right! Once I make it, I'll be your big bro!"
He swung his arm in a grand gesture, confidence pouring off him.
"Sure, I'll be waiting…"
"What about you? This is the year we prep for awakening. You in?"
"Me? Depends…"
Lucian's eyes closed again as he gave a half-hearted reply.
But inside his mind, thoughts had already begun to spiral outward.
Awakening—that was a word that had only entered the Aurelia lexicon in the past three centuries.
More than three hundred years ago, Aurelia was a land void of the extraordinary. A world where magic was dead. A barren wasteland when it came to the supernatural.
Then came the accident that changed everything.
Aurelia had been caught by the Ethereal Plane.
The Ethereal Plane—an unimaginably vast and mysterious world where magic flowed like air—had begun to draw closer to Aurelia. And like water seeking a lower place, its supernatural elements had begun to pour into this world.
Not only that, but spatial rifts and planar gateways would occasionally form, allowing people to cross into the Ethereal Plane.
And of course, beings from the Ethereal Plane could come through to Aurelia as well.
It was both a revolution and a catastrophe. The creatures of the Ethereal Plane were often imbued with terrifying powers, and the people of Aurelia, with their primitive strength, had no real means to resist.
Fortunately, the vast Will of the Ethereal Plane held goodwill toward new worlds. Along with its encroaching energy came ancient legacies—mystical inheritances from an age long forgotten.
Thanks to these gifts, and the combined power of advancing technology and budding mysticism, humanity held the line. Not only that—they began to expand into the Ethereal Plane.
The term "awakening" had been born in that era.
Though magical particles had started flowing into Aurelia, the transformation of this world would take time. The land was still mostly mundane.
But someone discovered that if you entered the Ethereal Plane and captured its aura—compressed and sealed it—and then released it back on Aurelia, it would rapidly accelerate the absorption of supernatural essence by the human body.
Once a person's body held enough supernatural essence, the Ethereal Plane would pull them in—transporting them directly into its world.
And in that moment, some would experience the miraculous: awakening.
Those lucky few would undergo a physical metamorphosis under the saturated magic of the Ethereal Plane. Their bodies would shift from mortal to mystical, granting them access to a higher path.
But this gift only applied to those who had been actively captured by the Ethereal Plane. Anyone who entered through other artificial gateways would forever lose the chance to awaken.
That moment—the capture—was everything. It defined the rest of your life.
If you succeeded, you would become a Transcendent—capable of training in one of countless paths: warrior, knight, sorcerer, mage, warlock…
Dozens, maybe hundreds of legacies to choose from and pursue.
To be Transcendent was to stand above.
The world had been split in two: the mundane and the extraordinary.
For those left behind in the mundane world, life had become rigid, stratified. Without awakening, the best you could hope for was to work, raise children, and pray that your offspring would be the ones to break free.
…
A sudden hush swept through the classroom.
Lucian opened his eyes.
The homeroom teacher had arrived and was now standing at the front.
He scanned the students' faces, satisfied with what he saw.
"Three years together, and now… it's finally time for us to part ways."
"This semester… is where your fates begin to diverge."
"Class rep, hand these out."
He gestured toward the stack of papers in his hand, his gaze lingering on the youthful faces staring back at him.
The class rep moved row by row, handing out the forms.
Lucian took a quick glance:
Stonebridge Third High School Awakening Application Form
"Take this home today. Discuss it with your parents. If you want to participate in the awakening process, fill it out and return it to me tomorrow."
Awakening was not mandatory—nor was it safe. Not everyone would survive, and not everyone who survived would succeed. Thus, the state did not force every student to attempt it.
The supernatural had been present for over three centuries now. The most dangerous days were long past. Today, people had already begun expanding beyond Aurelia, developing and exploiting the Ethereal Plane.
Ordinary folks who dreamed of joining this new era of exploration—or hoped to rise above their station—would choose to try their luck.
But in the nation of Solsten, public education didn't prepare children for the Ethereal Plane. Not because they couldn't—but because they wouldn't.
Resources were limited, and the top of the pyramid was already crowded. There was no need to let more climb.
So, awakening was only introduced in the final semester of high school. If you wanted to gamble, you'd study everything about the Ethereal Plane and step into a deadly game.
If not, you'd study regular subjects, take a job, and become part of the machine—factory worker, service staff, entertainment industry.
The children of the elite didn't need to gamble.
They had better teachers, better gear, better odds. Even their awakening success rates were higher.
Everything was nearly predetermined from the moment of birth.
So… will you bet?
Lucian clenched the form in his hands.
He knew he had to. Even if it cost him his life—this was his one and only shot.
Otherwise, he'd end up living the same life as his parents…
…
"Alright, that's all for today. Everyone's worked hard cleaning the classroom. Go home and rest early."
The bell from the school's highest tower rang out, and the teacher announced the end of the day.
Lucian grabbed his backpack and climbed out the window near his seat, heading straight for the school gate.
Even though classes had started, he still had to work part-time. He was a server at a restaurant near home.
The job was tough. Part-timers had to do everything—serve dishes, clean up, sometimes even wash dishes.
What? You think dishwashing's too gross? Then don't do it.
But if you refused—they'd just fire you.
Lucian's shift lasted from six to eleven. Forty bucks a day.
Not terrible, but not great either. Still, with school back in session, his options were limited. At least this place gave him a meal—he couldn't ask for much more.
He rushed into the restaurant, changed clothes, and dove into the evening rush.
…
By nightfall, the restaurant had finally quieted down.
Lucian packed up some leftover meat—decent stuff—and planned to bring it home.
His family couldn't afford meat every day. Whatever the customers left behind, if it still looked alright, he'd take it, reheat it, and serve it to his brothers.
By the time he arrived home, it was past eleven.
His parents were still up, sitting in the narrow living room.
As soon as he opened the door, his mother hurried over and gently brushed the dust off his clothes.
She took the food from his hands and headed into the kitchen to wash it.
Liam Vale gestured for him to sit.
"Did your teacher hand out the application today?"
"Yeah, Dad. Here it is."
Lucian pulled the form from his bag. It was already filled out—only a parent's signature remained.
Liam took it, scanned the densely written words, and remained silent.
Then he lit a cigarette and took a long drag.
"You've thought this through?"
"I have!" Lucian nodded firmly.
Through the drifting smoke, he could see his father's hand trembling ever so slightly.
Clearly, his emotions weren't as calm as his face.
"Alright. I believe in you. You'll awaken. I know you will."
Liam clapped his son on the shoulder, smiling with pride.
"Now go wash up and get some sleep."
Lucian turned and headed into his room. He still had to wake early tomorrow.
As he lay in bed, he could faintly hear his mother crying in the living room.
Awakening wasn't safe. It was lethal.
For every ten who tried, three or four would die. Of those who survived, only one or two might actually awaken.
It was a gamble with your life.
And for poor kids like Lucian, it was the only gamble they'd ever get.
If they won, they'd rise. If they lost—they lost everything.
Including their lives.
Their parents' worry was justified.
But they would never stand in the way.
Lucian pressed his lips together and let out a long breath.
Then he closed his eyes.
He needed rest.
Tomorrow, everything would begin.