The third morning was a study in grim acceptance. The sharp, shocking agony of the day before had settled into a profound, full-body ache. Kael found that while getting out of bed was still an ordeal, the simple act of moving felt marginally less like his muscles were tearing. It was a minuscule improvement, but it was enough to serve as a sliver of hope.
On the sky-tram, a strange, quiet camaraderie had formed among the students. They were united by their shared suffering.
"At least I can feel my arms today," Tarin grumbled, rotating his shoulder with a wince. "Mostly. I think they're still attached."
Lian, sitting opposite them, looked tired but less terrified. The absolute terror of the unknown had been replaced by the grim certainty of the known. "I managed to finish one full set yesterday," he said, the words a quiet mix of pain and pride. "Before I collapsed."
"That's one more than the day before," Selene offered, giving him a rare, encouraging smile.
The workout was as brutal as they remembered. The ten sets were a mountain of pain they had to climb, one agonizing rep at a time. But something had shifted. The initial shock was gone, replaced by a sullen, grinding determination. Their bodies, already broken down, had begun the slow, arduous process of rebuilding stronger. Kael, focusing on his breathing and the steady rhythm of his own movements, managed to complete all his sets without falling. He was one of the last to finish, his form shaky and his muscles screaming, but he finished. It was a victory measured in sweat and pain.
That afternoon, they filed back into the classroom, their physical exhaustion a stark contrast to the intellectual demands that awaited them. Every student moved with a certain stiffness, lowering themselves gingerly into their chairs.
Instructor Seliora stood at the front of the room, her demeanor as calm and academic as if the morning's ordeal had never happened.
"You have survived two sessions," she began. "Your bodies are beginning the long process of adaptation. They are becoming stronger, more resilient. Today, we continue to strengthen the mind. We have discussed the 'how' of the Awakening—the Meta-gene chain, BEU, and the structure of Evolutionary Levels. Today, we discuss the 'what'."
The diagram of the shimmering Meta-gene chain returned to the wall.
"While your Level is a measure of your raw power output, your type is a measure of its nature. It is the 'flavor' of your ability."
The chart from the previous lecture appeared, highlighting the different types: Kinetic, Elemental, Bio-Morphic, and Psychic.
"Your Meta-gene chain," Seliora explained, "is not a blank slate. It has a natural inclination, a predetermined path of least resistance. We call this your genetic affinity. Someone with a strong Elemental affinity is overwhelmingly likely to manifest an ability related to that type, and exceedingly unlikely to develop a Psychic one. This is determined at birth. It is a fundamental aspect of who you are."
She paced slowly, letting them absorb the information. "The ability granted by unlocking your first Genetic Lock is almost always the one that aligns with your strongest, or Primary, affinity. It is your foundational power, the core expression of your potential."
Tarin leaned forward, his interest piqued. "What about the other locks? Do we just get stronger at the same thing?"
"Not necessarily, Mr. Veyor," Seliora replied. "Abilities granted by subsequent locks can be enhancements or variations of your primary power. A Pyrokinetic who can create fireballs at Level 1 might, at Level 2, develop the ability to shape that fire into a defensive shield. However, some individuals possess Secondary or even Tertiary affinities. In those cases, a later lock might unlock an entirely new ability from a different type, though it is often weaker than their primary one. The Meta-gene chain is a complex and deeply personal blueprint."
As always, Ria's hand was the first in the air. "Instructor, given the predetermined nature of affinities, can we be tested to determine them before the Awakening? It would allow for a more logically optimized preparation."
"Pre-Awakening affinity tests exist," Seliora acknowledged, "but they are notoriously unreliable and astronomically expensive. The Imperium actively discourages their use. The Awakening is a journey of self-discovery, not a problem to be solved with a data sheet. Your potential is not a statistic to be optimized; it is a part of yourself to be met and understood."
Kaelen Demos snorted quietly. "It's also bad for business if the customer knows what's in the box before they pay to open it."
Seliora's gaze flickered towards him for a fraction of a second before she continued. "A unique expression is guaranteed. Two individuals with a Kinetic affinity, for example, might manifest wildly different abilities. One might be able to subtly increase the density and durability of their own body, becoming a living shield. Another might develop the ability to generate concussive blasts of pure force. The type is the category; the ability is the unique signature."
Her gaze settled on Kaelen, cool and direct. "You seem to view this as a simple transaction, Mr. Demos. A pre-packaged tool assigned by genetics. And you are not entirely wrong. But you are missing the most important part of the equation."
She turned her attention to the rest of the class. "A hammer's purpose is determined by the hand that wields it. It can be used to build a house or to shatter a skull. Your genetic affinity defines the type of tool you will be given. The character you are forging every morning on that platform—your discipline, your resilience, your control—that is what will define your purpose."
Then she continued, her tone shifting from the personal to the vast. "That concludes our introduction to Awakening Theory. We have covered the basics, but there are many more details we will explore in the coming weeks. For the remainder of today, we will begin our discussion on Mechanics & Electronics."
The energy in the room immediately dipped. Kael could practically hear Tarin's silent groan.
"I know this may seem less exciting than unlocking your inner potential," Seliora said, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. "But make no mistake: of the three pillars that support our Imperium, it is the most critical. The first is us, the Evolutionaries. The other two are the machines we build and the electronic systems that bind them together."
She gestured, and the wall behind her displayed a breathtaking star chart, a swirling galaxy of interconnected lights.
"You must understand the sheer scale of our Imperium. Even if you cannot grasp the exact size, consider this: a single ray of light would take millions of years to travel from one end of our territory to another. To govern, connect, and defend such an empire requires a perfect synergy of human potential and technological might."
"Let's start with travel," she continued. "We use starships, massive constructs of metal and energy that require an incredible number of operations just to function. And to truly command them, to process the trillions of data points from sensors, navigation, and weapons systems in real-time, we require Evolutionaries. Their enhanced cognitive abilities make it possible. For example, an 'Odyssey-class' Explorer, a relatively small vessel, requires a Level 7 Evolutionary at its helm to operate at full capacity."
Tarin's hand shot up. "Wait, Level 7? So you can't even pilot a serious warship until you're one of the most powerful Evolutionaries alive?"
"That is correct, Mr. Veyor," Seliora confirmed. "Which presents a problem of distance. Even our fastest ships would take millennia to cross the Imperium. That is why we have Star Gates."
The star chart on the wall changed, now showing major star systems connected by glowing, stable lines of light. "These are permanent, stable wormholes that allow for instantaneous travel over unimaginable distances. They connect the hundreds of star systems in our Imperium, which is broadly divided into three regions: the Core Region, the heavily developed heart of our civilization; the Mid Region, the expanding territories; and the Front Lines, the contested borders of our space."
"The Star Gates connect us physically," she said, her voice growing quieter. "But we also need to be connected by information. Yesterday, we discussed the StarNet. It, too, is intrinsically linked to Evolutionaries."
A somber mood settled over the class as she spoke. "When a high-level Evolutionary—Level 7 or above—dies, their biological 'Seed' implant sometimes undergoes a unique mutation due to their immense bio-energy. These mutated seeds, which we now call Hero Seeds, can be processed to create pairs of quantum-entangled communicators. They allow for instantaneous, untraceable communication across any distance."
Lian looked horrified. "Wait... our communication network is made from... people?"
Seliora met his gaze, her expression solemn. "It is a grim necessity, Mr. Chen. Ever since the establishment of our imperium, we have been locked in a silent, desperate war with an entity known as the Mother AI. It is not a physical being. It is a ghost in the machine, an intelligence that can travel on electrical signals, corrupt networks, and turn our own technology against us. It cannot, however, corrupt the organic mind of an Evolutionary. Our StarNet, built from the essence of our greatest heroes, is the only communication system in the galaxy the Mother AI cannot hack. It is why the network is also known as the Heroic Network."
The classroom was utterly silent, the students processing the shocking revelation of a secret, galaxy-spanning war.
"This war," Seliora continued, "is why our technology has developed as it has. For every task, we have tools."
The display changed to show three tiers of powered suits.
"For civilians, we have Exoskeletons. They enhance strength for construction, or provide stability for precision work like surgery. They do not require an Evolutionary to operate. For law enforcement within our cities, or for corporate security, we have Exosuits. These require at least a Level 1 Evolutionary to handle the neural interface and power throughput. The military, mercenaries, and explorers use Exosuits of Level 1 and above."
Her gaze sharpened. "Finally, we have the pinnacle of personal combat hardware: Mecha. These are purely military assets. Their operational complexity is so immense that they require the full processing power of an Evolutionary's mind just to walk. The levels of Mecha correspond to our own; a Level 1 Evolutionary can only pilot a Level 1 Mecha. But the power amplification is immense. A Mecha is more than ten times as powerful as an Evolutionary of the same level, and one hundred times more destructive."
She gave them a moment to absorb the staggering scale of power.
"These are the tools that built our world and that now defend it," she concluded. "One day, some of you may pilot these machines. Others may design them, or maintain them. The choices you make in this classroom will determine the role you play. That is why this subject matters. Are there any questions?"
As expected, Tarin's hand shot into the air, his earlier exhaustion forgotten in the face of such destructive potential.
"Instructor, if a Level 2 Mecha is ten times stronger than a Level 2 Evolutionary, why does the military even use soldiers in Exosuits? Why not just build more Mecha?"
"A practical question, Mr. Veyor," Seliora responded without pause. "You must think of Mecha as siege engines. They are immensely powerful, but also incredibly resource-intensive and strategically inflexible. A single soldier in an Exosuit can infiltrate a space station that a Mecha could only level from the outside. The Imperium needs scalpels as well as sledgehammers. Versatility is often more valuable than raw power."
Zaina raised her hand next. "You mentioned the Star Gates are divided into regions. Who controls them? Is travel restricted?"
"An astute question, Ms. Rostova," Seliora said, nodding. "The gates in the Core Region are managed by a civilian transit authority for commerce and travel. However, the entire network is under the ultimate authority of the Imperium Navy. Travel is closely monitored, and all access to the Front Lines is heavily restricted to military personnel and specially licensed contractors. The Star Gates are our most vital strategic assets, and their security is absolute."
The room was quiet for a moment, the students absorbing the sheer scale of the Imperium's structure. It was Kael who broke the silence, his voice quiet but clear.
"Instructor… the Hero Seeds," he began, the concept clearly unsettling him. "Is that really the only way the StarNet can function? Hasn't anyone found a technological alternative?"
Seliora's expression turned somber, her gaze meeting Kael's. "Since the establishment of the imperium, the Imperium's greatest minds have tried to create a synthetic, quantum-entangled network. Every attempt has been found, infiltrated, and corrupted by the Mother AI. A purely artificial system, it seems, can always be broken by a greater artificial intelligence. The chaotic, unpredictable, organic nature of a mutated bio seed is, for now, the only thing it cannot crack. It is a great and terrible price we pay for our survival."
She let that final, heavy truth settle over them before speaking again.
"This has been a dense overview. I do not expect you to remember every technical detail from today's lecture. My purpose was to open your eyes to the scale of the world you are about to fully enter and the many vital roles that exist within it."
Her eyes swept across the classroom, from the aspiring pilot to the budding engineer, to the future soldier and the quiet scholar.
"Should you choose to attend the Naval Academy after your Awakening, you will spend years studying starship operations and wormhole theory. If you pursue a career in engineering, you will learn to build and repair these very systems, from the micro-servos in an Exosuit to the energy core of a Star Gate. If you are accepted into the Mecha Corps, you will dedicate your life to mastering that incredible hardware."
"For now," she concluded, her voice softening slightly, "your task is simple. Understand that your innate power is but one piece of a much larger, more complex machine. Your journey is not just to Awaken, but to find your place within that machine."
"That is all for today. Rest. Recover. I will see you on the grounds tomorrow morning."