The morning after his first rift encounter, Biro awoke with a lingering sense of energy, as though the city itself had seeped into his blood. The fragment within him pulsed faintly, warm and alive, whispering in a language he could not yet articulate. He stretched, testing the limits of his body, flexing muscles that seemed ordinary yet subtly sharper, faster, more aware than they should have been.
Even without knowing it, his senses had begun adjusting. He noticed things others ignored: the slight warp in a sidewalk where a minor rift had closed the night before, the faint metallic taste in the air near certain streets, the subtle vibration under his feet as a hovercar passed overhead. His mind catalogued everything, instincts whispering that nothing in this city was purely mundane.
At breakfast, his parents maintained their usual calm efficiency. His father carefully monitored his demeanor, while his mother spoke softly, masking any sign of concern. Their movements were deliberate, subtle, as though they were steering Biro did not yet understand the reason for such caution-he only felt a vague sense that the world was layered, richer and more dangerous than appearances suggested.
"Biro, remember your lessons from yesterday," his mother said casually, placing a plate before him. "Observe everything. Some things are more than they seem."
Her words lingered, faintly cryptic, but Biro filed them away with the instincts stirring inside him. The fragment pulsed once, as if acknowledging her advice.
The streets beckoned. Unlike the previous day, when fear had driven him to cautious retreat, today curiosity guided his steps. He walked the familiar route to the local academy-a modest institution that hosted the Awakening Ceremony for students across the city. Students bustled past, unaware of the hidden fractures in reality surrounding them. To them, life was simple: classes, friendships, routines. To Biro, life was a puzzle, each movement, each sound, each flicker of light carrying subtle meaning.He noticed an alley ahead, faintly shimmering. Not as pronounced as yesterday's rift, but alive with latent energy. His instincts tensed, alerting him to danger. The fragment responded, a gentle vibration along his spine. Biro paused, crouching slightly, and watched. From the shadows, a small creature-a hybrid of fox and lizard-pushed itself into view. Its body radiated weak, irregular energy. An F-rank spawn, harmless in appearance but unpredictable.
The creature's gaze met his. Instinctively, Biro knew it was testing him, probing his reactions. He crouched lower, feeling the fragment pulse in rhythm with the creature's movements. A flicker of energy burst from his hands-not fully formed, unstable, but enough to startle the spawn. It hissed and darted back into the alley, the shimmer of the rift fading behind it.
Biro exhaled slowly, realizing that instinct-raw, untrained, but sharpened by the fragment-was becoming his first tool. He did not yet wield fire, psychic power, or dimensional abilities. But the fragment allowed him to sense,anticipate, and respond in ways that surpassed ordinary perception.
Later, at the academy, the Awakening Ceremony commenced. Students gathered in a grand hall, their talents displayed by hovering glyphs above their heads, revealing F to Mythic potential. Biro's panel remained hidden, invisible to all but himself. He kept his eyes down, observing without drawing attention. The other students demonstrated elemental control, physical enhancements, or minor psychic skills. Some boasted and preened; others were nervous, uncertain.
Biro noticed patterns: how the placement of glyphs correlated with power potential, how individuals with higher talent instinctively moved differently, how even the smallest gestures could betray hidden skill. His instincts catalogued everything, quietly calculating. He remained in the shadows, silent, observing, learning.
Through the ceremony, his fragment pulsed faintly, a steady reminder of the untapped potential he carried. He had survived his first trial; now he was learning to understand his instincts, to recognize subtle signs of danger, to navigate a world that seemed simple but hid countless layers beneath its surface.
And somewhere above, hidden from view, his parents watched, their eyes reflecting both caution and pride. They did not intervene. Biro's awareness and instincts must grow naturally. His Mythic heritage remained a secret, carefully concealed until the time came for him to awaken to his true potential.
As the ceremony ended, Biro walked back through the streets, noticing again the faint shimmer of a closed rift, a minor distortion in the air, a shadow where none should exist. His instincts had grown sharper, more attuned. Survival was no longer just a matter of reaction-it was beginning to feel like a skill, a silent dialogue between him, the fragment, and the hidden forces of the city.
For the first time, Biro felt a deeper confidence. He was powerless by most measures, unknown, unnoticed -but he was learning, adapting, surviving. The instincts that had carried him through his first trial were no longer crude; they were growing, preparing him for challenges he could not yet imagine.
This was the beginning of understanding.
And understanding would soon become power.