The sunlight pierced through the blinds, casting long stripes across Ogong's bedroom floor. He sat up with a jolt, staring at the faintly glowing mark on his palm. His heart thumped so loudly that it seemed to echo in the silent room. Yesterday—no, it couldn't have been real. The cosmic object, the otherworldly sky, the floating islands—he had touched it all, yet now he was here, in his mundane room.
"It wasn't a dream," he whispered, flexing his fingers and watching the faint glow pulse. A chill ran down his spine, not from fear, but from anticipation. Something had changed. Something had awakened in him, though he could not yet understand it.
He hurried to college, keeping his gaze low, trying to ignore the flares of magic around him. Sparks danced on desks, protective wards shimmered in hallways, and students casually lifted small objects with telekinetic force. Everyone seemed so alive, so powerful—and here he was, magicless, walking among them like a ghost.
"Ogong! Wait up!"
He turned to see Mira Lin, her long ponytail bouncing as she jogged to catch up. Her eyes shone with curiosity, tinged with concern. "Hey, I noticed you yesterday in class. You… weren't using magic at all. Are you okay?"
Ogong swallowed, trying to steady his voice. "I… I'm fine," he said, forcing a smile. "Just… not like everyone else."
Mira tilted her head, studying him. "Magicless, huh?" she said softly. "That must be hard here. But maybe there's another way. Everyone has potential, even if it doesn't show the same way as others." She offered a small, encouraging smile before jogging ahead.
From the shadow of a nearby doorway, a quiet voice joined in. Kaito Ren, his hair dark and eyes calm as still water, stepped forward. "If you ever need guidance… I can help." Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Ogong blinked. He wasn't sure if he had imagined it. But there was something about that calm, steady presence that gave him a strange sense of reassurance.
The lecture hall buzzed as Professor Selwyn entered, his robe brushing the floor like a dark cloud. Students straightened, performing warm-up spells as they waited for his sharp gaze. Ogong sank into his seat at the back, hoping to go unnoticed.
Rian, his rival, leaned over with that infuriating smirk. "Still magicless, huh? Hope you survive today," he whispered. Ogong ignored him, clenching his fists under the desk.
Professor Selwyn's eyes swept the room, scanning each student with unsettling precision. His gaze lingered on Ogong. "Ah… some of you are still struggling to awaken fully," he said, voice sharp as a blade. "And some… appear to have no spark at all."
A hush fell over the class. Ogong felt all eyes on him. His stomach knotted, but he refused to let panic take hold. He would survive this, no matter what.
Classes ended, and students spilled into the hallways, chatting and laughing as magic sparks flickered around them. Ogong walked alone, replaying the impossible visions of the dimension he had seen yesterday. The glowing mark on his palm pulsed faintly, drawing his attention to the alley ahead.
There, in the middle of the path, lay the cosmic object. Its surface shimmered with colors he had never seen, twisting and bending as if alive. He froze.
His chest tightened. "No… this can't be…"
Curiosity overcame caution. He knelt down, fingertips trembling, and brushed against the glowing surface.
A shock of energy surged through him, brighter and more intense than anything he had ever felt. The world around him twisted, colors stretching and folding, the sounds of the city fading into silence.
He fell—not down, but through something he could not describe. Floating islands, rivers of glowing liquid, and skies that shimmered with impossible hues surrounded him. The air itself seemed alive, humming against his skin.
"No… this isn't real," he whispered, stumbling to stand. His heart pounded so hard he could feel it in his throat. "It has to be a dream…"
Then a voice, soft but commanding, echoed through the air: "Awake… at last."
Ogong froze. His eyes darted around, searching for the source. The glowing mark on his palm pulsed, as though responding to the mysterious call. Fear, awe, and curiosity battled within him, leaving him breathless.
He fell to his knees, exhausted and overwhelmed, yet a spark of determination flared in his chest. He did not understand this place, he did not understand the power in his hand, but he would uncover it. Somehow.
And somewhere, in the distance, a faint ripple in the air hinted at the challenges—and the allies—that awaited him.
The world he knew was gone. A new reality had begun.