Kael followed Captain Thorne out of his small, dirty home. The world he had known his whole life seemed to shrink behind him. The two thugs who were left from Grist's crew were pressed against a wall, their faces pale with fear. They didn't even look at Kael as he passed. The silver-armored soldiers of the Argent Hand moved with a quiet, deadly grace that did not belong in the Sump. They formed a protective circle around Kael as they walked.
The people of the Sump, who were usually loud and rough, were silent. They peeked out from behind rusty pipes and dark corners, their eyes wide. They looked at Kael with a mix of fear and wonder. He was one of them, a boy who had been a nobody yesterday. Now, he was walking with powerful soldiers, leaving this dark place behind. Kael kept his eyes forward, trying not to think about their stares. He was leaving, but he had no idea where he was going.
They didn't walk for long. One of the soldiers pressed a hidden button on a wall, and a large section of it slid open with a soft hiss. Behind it was not another dirty tunnel, but a clean, brightly lit platform. In the center of the platform was a sleek, black vehicle that looked like a smooth, dark stone. It had no wheels and floated a few inches above the ground.
"This way, my Lord," Thorne said, motioning for Kael to get in.
Kael hesitated for a second, then stepped inside. The door slid shut behind him, and all the sounds of the Sump disappeared. The air inside was cool and clean. It smelled like nothing at all, which was a strange feeling after a lifetime of breathing the Sump's thick, smelly air. The inside of the vehicle was simple, with two long benches facing each other. Kael sat down on one, and Thorne sat across from him. The other soldiers stood guard silently.
The vehicle moved without a sound. Kael couldn't feel any shaking, but he knew they were moving fast. He looked at Captain Thorne, his mind full of a million questions.
Before he could speak, he decided to ask the one thing that was always with him. He thought the question in his mind, directing it at the cold presence there. 'What are you? Why are you doing this to me?'
The text appeared in his mind, clearer than ever before.
[System Note: This System is the Sextant Protocol. It is not a standard System.][Standard Systems help users grow their stats with training after they Awaken.][The Sextant Protocol is different. Before you officially Awaken, it multiplies your base strength by a factor of six every twenty-four hours. After you Awaken, this will apply to all of your stats. This is a special, high-speed growth protocol. It is a feature, not a mistake.]
Kael's eyes widened. A feature. Not a bug. This incredible, terrifying power-up was on purpose. His System was special. This new information made him feel even more lost. He was a boy from the Sump with a one-of-a-kind power-up System. That sounded like the kind of thing that would get him killed.
"You look like you have questions," Thorne said, his calm voice cutting through Kael's thoughts. "Ask them. It is better that you understand the world you are about to enter."
Kael took a breath. "You said I am 'Awakening'. What does that mean? And what is the Union?"
Thorne nodded, as if he expected this question. "All over the world, some people are born with special potential. At a certain age, usually around their eighteenth birthday, that potential 'awakens'. They gain powers far beyond normal humans. They might get super strength, the ability to create fire, or a talent for magic. These people are the Awakened."
He leaned forward a little. "The Union is a global group that was created to manage the Awakened. They make the rules, keep records, and handle any Awakened who become a threat. To them, order is the most important thing. An Awakened person without control is a danger to everyone."
"And my strength..." Kael started. "You said it was because I'm about to Awaken."
"Exactly," Thorne said. "Most people Awaken on their eighteenth birthday. But sometimes, very rarely, a person's Awakening is delayed. This happens to people with huge potential. Their power builds up inside them like water behind a dam. You are nineteen. For a whole year, your power has been building up, getting ready. Now, the dam is about to break. That is why your strength is growing so wildly. It's all of that stored-up power leaking out at once."
This made a terrifying kind of sense. "So, when I have the 'official Awakening', this will stop?"
"Yes," Thorne confirmed. "The ceremony will fully connect you to your power and your System. Your System will then organize your abilities. Your strength will settle down to your true starting level. After that, your power will only grow when you train and work for it, like everyone else."
Thorne didn't know about the Sextant Protocol. He didn't know Kael's System had its own rules. Kael decided to keep that secret to himself for now.
"You also need to understand the power levels," Thorne continued. "The Union ranks every Awakened person to know how strong they are. The ranks go from F to S."
"F-Rank is the weakest. They are only a little stronger or faster than a normal, athletic human. Many people Awaken at this level."
"E-Rank and D-Rank are more common for people with some talent. They are strong enough to be soldiers or guards. A D-Rank Awakened can punch through a brick wall."
"C-Rank is considered a professional level. Most of the Union's Enforcers and family guards are C-Rank. They can bend steel bars and are very skilled fighters."
"B-Rank is where it gets serious. A B-Rank can take on a whole squad of C-Ranks. They are powerful and respected."
"A-Rank Awakened are very rare and very powerful. They are leaders, generals, and the heads of important teams. I, for example, am an A-Rank."
Kael looked at the calm, serious man in front of him. This man, who could probably destroy a building, was serving as a guard. It showed how powerful the Kaelen family must be.
"And S-Rank?" Kael asked quietly.
Thorne's expression became very serious. "S-Rank Awakened are like walking natural disasters. There are only a few of them in the whole world. Each one is powerful enough to destroy a city. They are the leaders of the most powerful families and countries. Your grandfather, Lord Valerius Kaelen, is an S-Rank."
Kael felt like he couldn't breathe. His grandfather was one of the strongest people on the planet. And he, Kael, was his grandson. It felt like a dream.
"Right now," Thorne said, looking Kael up and down, "even before your Awakening, your raw strength is probably at a C-Rank level. That is almost unheard of. It is why the Union would see you as such a threat. And why your grandfather wants to get you to safety immediately."
The vehicle began to slow down. Kael felt a change in the light outside. Thorne stood up.
"We are here," he said.
The door hissed open, and Kael stepped out. The light was so bright it made him cover his eyes. He wasn't in a dark tunnel or a dirty room. He was standing on a platform of white stone, under an open sky that was a perfect, clear blue. He had only seen a sky like this in his parents' old books.
He was on top of a mountain, high above the clouds. Below him, he could see the floating city of Aethelgard, but it looked small from up here. All around him were beautiful buildings with tall silver towers and large green gardens. Waterfalls fell from floating islands, creating rainbows in the air. This was the home of his family. The Kaelen Estate.
It was a different world. He had left the darkness of the Sump and had stepped into the light.
"Your grandfather is waiting for you," Captain Thorne said, his voice softer now. "Welcome home, Lord Kael."