Xavian barely caught his breath as he followed the man through the narrow, snow-slick streets.
"You're late," Arlo Vensh said casually, hands in his coat pockets, eyes scanning the icy skyline. "But I like a bit of fire in my recruits."
"Recruits?" Xavian asked, his heart hammering. "What… what is this place?"
Arlo smirked, as if enjoying the question. "You've already made one mistake today by thinking the world is ordinary. Welcome to the Tenfold Order, a secret organization that handles the supernatural threats no one else even knows exist."
Xavian's mind raced. Supernatural? Threats? His life had been about surviving school and the freezing streets. Now… this?
The building before them was nothing extraordinary—an old warehouse hidden in the industrial quarter. But as they stepped inside, it transformed. Mana-charged lights floated like fireflies, and the air thrummed with energy. Several other teens trained quietly in corners, each radiating their own unique aura.
Arlo gestured toward a circular platform in the center. "Everyone who enters here has a Mana Core, a hidden source of energy that fuels abilities beyond normal humans. Some manifest it in weapons. Others in spells. Some… in ways even I can't predict."
He paused, letting the words sink in. "But be warned. Every power has a cost. Use too much mana at once, and your body collapses. Every beat of your heart, every thought, relies on a baseline of energy. Cross it, and… well, let's just say death isn't polite."
Xavian swallowed, feeling a chill deeper than the city's winter.
"And then… there are relics," Arlo continued, holding out a small, glowing orb. "Objects of ancient power. They amplify your mana, let you do things ordinary humans can't. But they come at risk. Only the strongest, the most disciplined, can wield the highest-grade relics. One wrong move, and a relic doesn't just fail… it kills."
Xavian's eyes widened. Kill him?
Arlo laughed, sharp but not cruel. "That's why we're careful. And that's why we need a team."
At that moment, five other teens were led to the platform. A tall, charming boy with an easy smile. A girl with sharp eyes and lithe movements. Another, quiet, almost ethereal, clutching a staff that pulsed with gentle light. Two more, each radiating focus and danger.
"You will learn, train, and test your limits together," Arlo said, his gaze finally resting on Xavian. "And today… we find out if you're worthy."
Xavian stepped forward. His hands shook slightly, but his heart burned. For the first time, he wasn't just a poor boy surviving the cold. He might just be something more.