The mountain air was thin and biting, carrying the scent of scorched stone and ash. The crater beneath the cliff still smoked from the night before's cataclysm, a violent scar on the landscape. To anyone else, it was an accident—an unlucky miscalculation—but to the four figures crouched along the ridge, it was a signal, an anomaly in the delicate balance they had sworn to maintain.
They were not ordinary humans. Each radiated the subtle hum of raw energy, the unmistakable presence of Awakened beings whose senses reached far beyond mortal perception. Their auras flickered like faint storms, revealing glimpses of power contained only through discipline and focus. They were Regulators—those tasked with observing, managing, and, when necessary, controlling newly Awakened individuals.
The silver-eyed one scanned the crater below, their gaze piercing through the lingering haze of heat and energy. "The signature is unusual," they said quietly, almost to themselves. "Not just Awakened… something rarer. Something untested."
The taller figure beside them, shadow shifting across their form like smoke, leaned forward, arms crossed. "And the individual is still missing," they added, voice tight with tension. "No physical trace remains. It's as if the very essence of the being has been removed from the plane."
"Impossible," said the gold-haired regulator, tone laced with frustration. "Even a Pioneer's energy leaves a mark. Our instruments should detect something, anything. But there's nothing. He's… gone."
A fourth figure remained silent, their aura pulsing faintly as they extended a hand, fingers brushing the air as though coaxing hidden energy to respond. A soft glow emanated from their fingertips, casting flickering light across the cliff face. "He has used soul projection," they said finally, voice low and measured. "Seven days, at least. The physical vessel remains inert while the consciousness exists elsewhere. We will not find him until he reconnects with the body."
The group absorbed the weight of the revelation. Regulators were powerful, disciplined, and trained to manage chaos, but even they had limits. Even they could not pierce the veil Marcus had drawn around himself. The reality of the situation settled like a heavy fog over them—this was no ordinary Awakened. This was a Pioneer.
The silver-eyed one clenched their fists, the energy around them crackling faintly. "He is more dangerous than we anticipated. To vanish so completely… he is beyond normal measures. Our usual protocols will not suffice."
The taller figure shook their head, shadows flickering like restless smoke. "And yet, he is untested. He has no mastery over the chaos within him. Uncontrolled, he is volatile. But the problem is—if left unchecked, even a single Pioneer could disrupt the delicate equilibrium we've maintained for centuries."
The gold-haired regulator's gaze drifted toward the smoldering crater. "We cannot pursue him now. Not without knowing the nature of his abilities, the depth of his power. Any direct engagement would be reckless."
For a long moment, silence stretched across the ridge, broken only by the faint hiss of heat rising from the crater and the occasional snap of loose stone underfoot. The mountain seemed almost alive, as if it were aware of the unseen force moving below, pulsing with a rhythm that defied understanding.
Finally, the silent fourth regulator spoke again, the words deliberate, calm, and final. "We report this. To the Master. He has appeared, yes—but he is beyond us for now. The outcome is unknown, the risk immeasurable. We follow protocol: retreat, report, await instructions."
A brief nod passed between them, a silent acknowledgment of both their failure and their duty. They had been the first to witness the emergence of a Pioneer, but witnessing alone was not enough. The responsibility weighed heavily, a reminder that power alone was meaningless without order.
Shadows stretched across the ridge as they rose, merging with the twilight. Their movements were fluid, almost imperceptible, a ballet of energy and discipline honed over decades. Each step was calculated, each motion deliberate, as they vanished from the cliff, leaving only faint traces of their presence for the world to forget.
Below them, the crater sat in silence, a scar of fire and stone. No one would know the truth of what had occurred here. The world would remain oblivious to the birth of a Pioneer—the spark of potential that could one day redefine everything the Regulators had sworn to protect.
As they moved away, the taller figure's shadowed aura rippled, twisting like smoke in the wind. "We cannot intervene yet," they muttered. "But when he emerges… we must be ready."
The silver-eyed regulator's gaze lingered on the smoldering crater. "This is only the beginning," they said quietly, a shiver of anticipation—or was it dread?—running through them. "And whatever comes next… will test everything we know."
The mountain seemed to exhale behind them, the remnants of energy settling into the earth, awaiting the moment the Pioneer would awaken. And as the four figures disappeared from sight, heading toward their hidden headquarters, the world remained blissfully unaware that a force had already begun to stir—a force that not even the most skilled Regulators could yet fully grasp.
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Author's Note:
The first twenty chapters of this story are devoted to building the foundation of Veridonia and its complex power system. While Marcus Vale's journey begins with tragedy and rebirth, these early chapters focus on discovery—revealing how Awakened individuals, marked with unique soul tattoos, interact with the world and the consequences of wielding such abilities. Readers will see the rules, hierarchies, and limitations that govern these powers, from soul projection and Chaos Enchantment to the delicate balance between creation and destruction. Through Marcus's experiences and the perspective of other Awakened beings, including Regulators tasked with monitoring the gifted, the narrative gradually introduces the social structures, networks, and hidden systems that shape this world. These chapters are designed to immerse readers in the mechanics of power and the stakes of choice, showing that even immense ability carries responsibility and risk. By the end of the twentieth chapter, readers will have a solid understanding of both Marcus's capabilities and the larger framework in which he exists, setting the stage for more complex conflicts, moral dilemmas, and high-stakes action. These opening chapters are about preparation, worldbuilding, and tension—the foundation upon which the rest of the story will thrive.