The early morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of dew and distant forests. Orion stood at the edge of the orphanage training yard, eyes narrowed as he watched the other students practice. Light, gravity, shadow—every motion of energy around him highlighted what he lacked. A coreless boy, powerless… or so everyone believed.
But Kael Adren, reborn as Orion, had begun to notice patterns. Observing others wasn't enough; he had to act, test, and learn from instinct.
He focused on a small pebble lying on the ground. It was nothing remarkable, yet it became his first test. Without thinking, he reached out and flicked his fingers. The pebble spun in the air, twisting and hovering just slightly before dropping.
It was subtle, almost imperceptible to anyone watching, yet Orion felt it—a small, electric thrill in his chest. A spark of potential, proof that something inside him could respond to his will.
Lyra appeared quietly, standing beside him. "That was… unusual," she said softly, eyes curious. "I didn't think anyone without a Core could even do that."
Orion shrugged. "I didn't either," he admitted."But maybe Kael can still do more."
He tried again. Pebbles, leaves, small dust motes—anything he could manipulate. Each time, the motion was cleaner, smoother. Each time, a small flash of energy tickled his fingers. Nothing powerful, nothing spectacular, but enough to hint that something was stirring within him.
And then, a sudden jolt—backflash.
Earth. A memory of tossing a baseball in a crowded park, the swing of his arm, the precision of motion. Reflexively, he reached out to catch a falling training tool before it struck a younger student. His body moved faster than his mind could process. The tool stopped midair, suspended by his untrained instincts.
The students around him froze. Whispers ran through the yard like wildfire. Lyra's eyes widened in shock, a mixture of awe and caution.
Orion's chest tightened."It's real. This is really happening."
Yet, the moment faded as quickly as it came. His body had no true Core, no reservoir of energy to sustain the action. The tool dropped to the ground, harmless, but the effect was undeniable: the faintest shimmer, a trace of something extraordinary hidden inside him.
Later, as the training session ended, Orion wandered to the pond near the twin moons' reflection. His mind raced, cataloging every sensation, every instinctive movement, every memory that had surfaced.
Lyra followed quietly. "You're different," she said, almost in a whisper. "I don't know what it is… but you're not like anyone else here."
Orion smiled faintly, exhaustion and determination mingling. "I know. And I'm going to find out what I really am."
The twin moons reflected in the water, their silver light shimmering like a promise. Something stirred deep inside Orion's chest—subtle, almost imperceptible, but undeniably there. A spark. A thread. A hint of what was to come.
Kael Adren, reborn into this weak, judged body, had begun the first true step of awakening.
And Aurelia would soon take notice.