I woke up before any alarms this time.
That alone felt suspicious.
For a few seconds, I just lay there, blinking at the ceiling, waiting for the familiar ache, the heavy stiffness that usually came with mornings after… well, anything remotely physical.
It didn't come.
My body felt… fine.
Not rested– let's not get crazy– but functional. Like it had quietly decided that sleeping was now an optional activity and adjusted accordingly.
"…uh," I whispered. "We are not doing this."
I sat up slowly, bracing myself.
Still nothing.
No sharp pain in my ribs. No deep soreness in my legs. Even my head felt clearer than it had in weeks.
That warmth stirred faintly in my chest, calm and steady.
I glanced out the window where the sun was slowly shining light.
"I did not authorize overnight healing," I muttered, though I wasn't in a mood to complain.
'As strange as it is, I guess it's pretty useful?'
The dorm room was bathed in pale morning light filtering through the tall window. The Vanguard dormitories looked even more unreal during the morning. Clean lines, polished floors, everything neat in a way that felt aggressively expensive.
I dragged myself out of bed and stretched cautiously.
My body responded smoothly, in a way no body should move after almost dying days prior.
"…I'm watching you," I warned my Aether Core, pointing at my chest.
It did not care.
"Huh. Well I guess I am talking to an organ, of sorts."
...Part of me wondered if I had gone insane.
After a quick shower, still marveling at the fact that I owned both a shower and a bathtub for the foreseeable future– I pulled on the Vanguard uniform. Dark fabric, reinforced seams, subtle silver stitching along the shoulders and collar. It fit… disturbingly well.
I checked myself in the mirror.
Still me.
Just cleaner. Less miserable. Slightly more fashionable.
"Wow." I said dryly. "Would you look at that. A real womanizer in the making."
I pocketed my Awakened ID, and stepped out into the hallway.
The dormitory wing was already awake.
Doors opened and closed quietly. People moved through the halls in small clusters, some nervous, some excited, and a select few who seemed indifferent. Likely the awakeneds who have been here for long enough to get used to this routine.
I spotted Ashley almost immediately.
Bright blonde hair, soft ember eyes, leaning against the wall like she'd been there for a while. She perked up when she saw me.
"Morning," she said, smiling.
I blinked.
"Uh." I said intelligently. "Have you been waiting here?"
She quickly glanced away, a awkward smile tugging at her lips
"Just knock at my door next time."
"Fine," She shrugged "You don't seem very rested though. Rough night?"
"Let's just say my Legacy and I had a long talk," I replied, falling into step beside her. "It mostly ignored me."
"I'd be concerned if you heard it talk back."
"Well point is, i learned some interesting stuff about my Legacy."
We followed the flow of people toward the cafeteria. The building was massive, open ceilings, long banners bearing the Vanguard insignia, sunlight pouring in through high windows like the place was determined to be inspiring.
My stomach growled loudly.
Ashley glanced at me.
"…Seems like that knowledge came with a cost."
"Oh no, thats normal." I said solemnly. "Food has always been my top priority. Possibly my religion."
The cafeteria doors slid open.
And I stopped walking.
The smell hit me first.
Warm bread. Roasted meat. Something sweet and buttery. Real food, not ration bricks, not watered-down soup, not whatever crime against humanity I'd been living on before.
My eyes widened.
"By the gods," I whispered. "They've done it. They've achieved perfection."
Ashley snorted. "You look like you're about to cry."
"I am about to cry."
The cafeteria which was completely empty last evening, had now Awakeneds sitting everywhere, talking, laughing, comparing notes, some already wearing training gear.
But none of that mattered.
Because food.
We grabbed trays and moved down the line. I pointed at things at random, loading my tray like I'd never see food again.
Which, to be fair, felt like a reasonable assumption.
Ashley raised an eyebrow. "You haven't eaten this much yesterday. You planning to share?"
"No," I said, clutching my tray defensively. "This is between me and destiny."
We found a table near the window and sat.
I took one bite.
Then froze.
"…Oh," I breathed. "I really can't get used to this."
Ashley laughed. "It's just stew. The same stew you ate yesterday."
"No," I said seriously. "This is a gift. I should be thanking someone."
I ate like I'd been starved.
Granted, I did feel like i'd been starved.
The warmth in my chest stirred faintly as my body soaked it all in. Energy spread through me, not in a dramatic way, just… efficiently. Like everything I ate went exactly where it needed to.
I frowned mid-bite.
"Okay," I muttered. "That's new."
"What is?" Ashley asked.
"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just… appreciating the craftsmanship of this stew."
She eyed me suspiciously but let it go.
We ate in comfortable silence for a while, broken only by my very enthusiastic appreciation of everything on my plate.
Eventually, Ashley checked the time. "Aether Theory starts in about forty minutes."
I groaned. "So cruel. To make us leave this place."
"You'll survive."
"Seriously though. Im kind of excited."
We stood, trays returned, and headed back into the main corridor. Groups of Awakeneds moved with purpose now, heading toward different wings of the Spire.
'My first class.'
I felt a flicker of nerves twist in my stomach.
Not fear but... Anticipation.
Whatever the Vanguard Spire was about to throw at me…
I had the feeling my Legacy was already preparing.
Whether I liked it or not.
And yet, when we arrived...
The Aether Theory lecture hall looked… disappointing.
'This is it? Really? It looks so Mediocre.'
That was my first thought as I stepped inside.
No glowing circles etched into the floor. No floating holograms. No ominous artifacts humming with ancient power. Just rows of seats arranged in a wide semicircle, a raised platform at the front, and a massive slate-like board stretching across the wall.
I frowned.
"…This is it?" I muttered.
Ashley leaned closer, lowering her voice. "What were you expecting?"
"I don't know," I said. "Definitely not a average Lecture hall."
She shrugged. "Atleast this gives it a sense of normalcy."
We took seats somewhere in the middle. Around us, other awakened students settled in, some whispering excitedly, others sitting relaxed and straight, already used to this procedure.
I leaned back, arms crossed.
'Aether Theory...'
I'd half-expected something abstract. Or worse– something that assumed I already knew things I very clearly did not.
The room quieted as a man entered from a side door.
He didn't look impressive or special at all.
That somehow didn't help at all with the tension I felt pooling inside me.
Average height. Simple dark coat. No visible weapons. His presence was calm in a way that felt… heavy. Like the air itself straightened when he stepped onto the platform.
He didn't introduce himself right away.
He simply looked at us.
All of us.
I had the uncomfortable sensation that he'd already counted everyone in the room, memorized our faces, and decided exactly how disappointing we were going to be.
"Good morning," he said at last, voice even. "To all the newcomers, Welcome to Aether Theory."
No amplification. No raised tone.
Yet every word carried effortlessly.
"My name is Instructor Halverin. I will be teaching this course for the foreseeable Future."
He paused.
"I value hard work and effort," he continued calmly, "So if you plan on slacking off, feel free to leave immediately."
A few people swallowed audibly.
I leaned toward Ashley. "He seems straightforward."
Halverin turned and tapped the slate behind him. Symbols flared briefly, then resolved into clean, simple text.
"All awakened beings," he said, "are defined by three core pillars."
He raised one finger.
"First: Aether Core Stage."
The words shifted, diagrams appearing beneath them– illustrations of glowing cores, layered and expanding.
"This determines how much raw power you can wield," Halverin continued. "Think of it as the size of your reservoir. A larger Core Stage allows greater output, endurance, and resilience."
I nodded slowly.
'That much made sense. Bigger battery, more juice.'
He raised a second finger.
"Second: Legacy Rank."
The diagrams changed, abstract symbols now, branching paths, ceilings drawn high above them.
"This represents your inherent potential. Your ceiling. No matter how skilled you become, no matter how refined your control, your Legacy Rank determines how far you can ultimately go."
My jaw tightened.
Ashley shifted beside me, suddenly very aware.
'Legacy Rank.'
'Resonant.'
'Second lowest.'
I resisted the urge to sigh dramatically.
"High ranks are rare," Halverin said, as if reading my thoughts. "However. They are not guarantees of greatness. Only of possibility."
I raised an eyebrow.
'How Comforting.'
He lifted a third finger.
"Third: Aether Mastery Rank."
The slate shifted again, this time showing a progression, crude, unstable flows refining into precise, intricate patterns.
"This," Halverin explained, "is where most of you will develop your Legacy."
The room went very still.
"Aether Mastery Rank measures your depth of control and understanding of your Legacy," he continued. "Not how much power you have. Not what you were born or awakened with. But how well you use what you possess."
I felt something stir faintly in my chest.
'Does that mean i can still grow strong after all?'
"The higher your Aether Mastery Rank," Halverin said, "the more skills tied to your Legacy you can develop."
That got a reaction.
Whispers rippled through the hall. People leaned forward. Pens scratched across notebooks.
'Skills.'
I sat up straighter.
"Legacies are not singular abilities," Halverin said. "They are frameworks. Systems. Most of you have access to only the most basic expression of yours."
He glanced over the room.
"Those who improve their Mastery unlock depth. Variations. Advanced techniques. Sometimes… entirely new expressions."
My pulse quickened.
I thought of the Mana Fiend.
The first hit. The second, stronger one.
The way my body had responded differently.
"…So," I murmured, half to myself, "Even though my Legacy is trash, i can still make it work."
Ashley tilted her head. "You say that like you're trying to convince yourself."
"I absolutely am."
She smiled softly.
Halverin tapped the slate again. The diagrams faded.
"Your time at the Vanguard Spire," he said, "is designed to help you develop all three pillars. But understand this–"
His gaze sharpened.
"Legacy Rank cannot be changed."
That landed like a stone.
"But," he continued, "Aether Mastery can."
I exhaled slowly.
'There it is.'
"This course," Halverin said, "will teach you how Aether flows. How it responds to intent. How to sense inefficiencies, strain, and opportunity within your Core."
He looked directly at us now.
"Those who take this seriously will outperform others with superior Legacies but inferior discipline."
I smirked faintly.
"See?" I whispered to Ashley. "Hope. Right there."
She nudged me lightly. "Pay attention."
"Yes, ma'am."
The lecture continued– foundational concepts, terminology, early exercises we'd be practicing in later sessions. Nothing flashy.
But for the first time since awakening…
I didn't feel lost.
I felt like I was finally being handed a map.
As Halverin dismissed us, I leaned back in my seat, staring at the ceiling.
'Three pillars...'
'Aether Core Stage.'
'Legacy Rank.'
'And Aether Mastery.'
I clenched my fist slowly.
"Alright," I muttered under my breath. "Let's see how far 'almost useless' can really go."