Almost ten years after the incident…
Sahara City stretched across the northern plains where Solara once stood, rebuilt not just as a refuge, but as one of the five main bastions for training potential awakeners. Its spires gleamed under the morning sun, a testament to human resilience and the careful cultivation of a new generation meant to face the unknown.
"Get up, Ael! We are going to be late to the academy!" Isla's voice rang sharp and clear, echoing off the walls of his small bedroom. Her knocks against the wooden door were more like rhythmic drumbeats — urgent, insistent, and impossible to ignore.
Ael groaned, buried beneath the blankets, feeling the weight of sleep pressing down on him. The night had been long — or rather, short — spent watching live streams of awakeners clearing a C-rank rift. Every strike of mana, every clever maneuver, every flash of light and shadow captivated him until the early hours of the morning.
"Ugh… This woman will be the death of me," he muttered, his voice hoarse, barely above a whisper.
Swinging his legs out from under the covers, Ael rubbed his eyes and stumbled toward the bathroom. There, he faced himself in the mirror. The reflection staring back was both familiar and extraordinary: hair as white as winter frost, unkept from sleep, falling just past his ears. His violet eyes shimmered with an otherworldly glow, catching the morning light. A rare combination — hair and eyes that marked him as a being unlike any other in this world. He studied his reflection, a mix of pride, curiosity, and unease swirling within him.
Splashing water over his face, he brushed his teeth, and as he dressed, his thoughts drifted to tomorrow — the day he might awaken. The anticipation was a knot of excitement and anxiety that refused to unwind.
Just as he stepped out of his room, a weight slammed into him like a moving wall.
"Ael! I told you to hurry up! We are going to be late, you lazy sloth!"
Isla's grin stretched across her face, fierce and teasing, as her strength pressed him to the floor in a playful headlock. Strands of her jet-black hair slipped over her bright blue eyes, the color like liquid sapphire in the morning light. She was beautiful — sharp-featured, confident, and full of fire — though she'd never admit to caring what anyone thought of her looks.
"Isla… Can't you give me a break? I was… studying last night."
"Studying?" she scoffed, incredulous. "All I heard was you glued to some live stream of awakeners until your eyelids nearly fell off!"
"Well," Ael said, twisting just enough to grin mischievously at her, "if we're enlisted in the academy as future awakeners, wouldn't watching live operations count as studying?"
Isla's jaw dropped, rendered speechless by his logic.
From behind him, a soft snort broke the tension. Kara had appeared, her hands ready to grab him. "So, little brother has it all figured out, huh?" she said with amusement, looping an arm around his neck in a playful chokehold. "Don't forget, not everyone awakens. Only one in a thousand even has the chance. Maybe you should have your standards re-checked."
"Oh, dear sister," Ael said, feigning offense, "how could someone like me not awaken? I've been given perfection — white hair, violet eyes, this handsome face. You really think the world would deny me awakening?"
Kara rolled her eyes, grinning, while Isla laughed quietly, shaking her head. There was no denying Ael's rare features, and his physical form certainly didn't hurt his argument.
"Isla, please slap this crazy brother of mine," Kara said, still smirking. "We need to tone him down a bit before his ego inflates even further."
Isla complied, laughing softly as her hand met his head lightly. "Ael, come on, we're going to be late!"
Ael finally allowed himself to move, dusting off his clothes as they walked through the morning light. The streets were alive with students making their way to classes, chatter bouncing across the streets, the scent of dewy grass and fresh stone filling the air.
Soon, Lira's warm voice called from the kitchen. "Good morning, sweetheart. Finally awake, huh? Sit down and eat something quickly before heading out. Today is the last day before your fifteenth birthday — the day of your potential awakening. You've dreamed of this for years, and I want you to be on time."
"Yes, mother," Ael said, sliding into a chair, the plate of breakfast warming his hands. "I'll be on time, like always. But honestly, there's nothing more to learn. I'm top of my class in swordsmanship, magic theory, and hand-to-hand combat. Whatever type of magic I awaken, I'll be ready."
Kara rolled her eyes again but smiled, while Isla listened, clearly amused, quietly observing Ael's confidence — or arrogance, depending on perspective.
The breakfast was filled with chatter, laughter, and teasing. It was a rare moment of calm in a world where danger often loomed, even in the quiet days between awakenings.
—
The academy itself was a sprawling fortress of knowledge and training. Courtyards full of cobblestone paths, trees trimmed into precise geometric shapes, and statues commemorating famous awakeners — past pioneers who had mapped the dangerous world of rift exploration — all created an environment where every corner reminded students of the weight of potential power.
"Class today is the last day of your studies," Catherine, the instructor, announced, her voice steady, carrying across the room. "You've spent five years preparing for this moment. Tomorrow, you may awaken and become either a mage, channeling your mana into spells, or a physical combatant, using mana to enhanc your body beyond human limits. Physical combatants may pursue the path of a brawler, like Kael Dorn, whose name you should all know."
She paused, walking slowly along the rows of eager students. "Remember, if you awaken as a mage, each increase in your mana core grants one point to all stats, and two points in Intelligence, which governs your magical aptitude. Physical combatants receive two points in Strength instead of Intelligence, emphasizing your reliance on raw power. Tomorrow, those who awaken will go to the Awakener Association to test your newly awakened core."
Class ended, students filing out with murmurs of excitement and nerves. Ael's thoughts wandered — he could picture the rifts, the monsters, the heroes from the streams, the incredible power flowing through them. Tomorrow, that could be him.
Outside the classroom, Isla waited, leaning casually against a pillar, her expression bright. "So, how are you feeling? I'm envious. I wish our birthdays were the same day, Ael! I'm still a month away from turning fifteen."
"Relax, Isla," Ael said, smiling. "It's just a month. The academy has classes every day of the year. Even if you wait, you'll get your chance."
Isla nodded, shoulders relaxing. "I suppose a month isn't so bad…"
They strolled through the academy grounds together, talking about training techniques, rift strategies, and the live streams they watched obsessively. Ael detailed the attacks of various awakeners he admired, mimicking movements with his hands and feet, while Isla countered with insights she'd gleaned herself. Their shared passion for the awakening process, and the camaraderie born of survival and study, made the walk feel far too short.
As the sun moved higher, the academy courtyard became alive with students gathering in groups, preparing for practical exercises and combat simulations. Ael and Isla found a shaded area beneath a towering cedar tree. The wind ruffled their hair as they shared stories of past rifts and speculative strategies.
Isla turned toward Ael, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Tomorrow's going to be the real test. Not just of skill, but of who you are. You ready?"
Ael's gaze hardened, determination in his eyes. "I'll be ready. I want to be as strong as the awakeners we watched, Isla. I want to protect people… like they do."
Isla nodded, inspired by his resolve. "Then we'll both make it. No matter what type of magic or body enhancement we awaken, we'll be ready for anything. You'll have to wait for me though.", she said happily.
A soft chime rang from the academy's central bell tower, signaling the end of the day. Students began heading toward their homes, or one-on-one training with instructors as extra credit. Ael and Isla lingered, sharing quiet laughter, observing the bustling world around them, unaware of just how quickly tomorrow would change everything.
In that moment, Ael felt a strange calm. The last five years of preparation had led him here. The morning sunlight glinting off the academy walls felt like a quiet herald of the awakening to come. No longer a boy hiding behind the remnants of a destroyed city, he was about to step into a world defined by power, danger, and choice.
And somewhere deep inside, a pulse of anticipation thrummed. Tomorrow, the world might finally recognize him.