Rain had fallen through most of the night.
By morning, Ashvale smelled of wet earth, pinewood, and smoke drifting from early chimneys. Thin mist clung to the narrow village roads while puddles reflected the pale grey sky overhead.
The village was louder than usual.
Not because of danger.
Because awakening season had finally arrived.
For the younger children, it was excitement.
For the adults, expectation.
For those nearing sixteen—
It was the beginning of the rest of their lives.
Zero walked quietly beside Klaus through the crowded village square while merchants shouted over one another and villagers gathered near the center notice board.
Someone had pinned the imperial announcement there before dawn.
Klaus pushed through the crowd first.
"They finally posted it."
Zero stopped behind him silently.
The parchment carried the crimson seal of the Solaryn Empire.
Imperial Notice
Awakening ceremonies for the southern territories will begin within fourteen days.
All candidates approaching the age of sixteen are to report to their assigned awakening sites.
Fusion Stones will be distributed according to regional status and imperial allocation.
Those who successfully awaken and meet the required standards may participate in the Citadel entrance selection.
Serve the Empire.
Grow beneath the eternal sun.
Below the message sat another smaller line written carefully in gold ink.
Tier Allocation: Villages — Tier One Fusion Stones Townships — Tier Two Fusion Stones Noble Territories — Tier Three and Above
Klaus clicked his tongue.
"Tier One again."
A nearby villager laughed bitterly.
"What did you expect? We're Ashvale."
Another shook his head.
"Tier One stones barely connect properly to the Prime Nexus."
"They still awaken people."
"Yeah. If you're lucky."
The conversations continued around them naturally.
Fragments overlapping.
"...heard Silver Stones can reveal dual affinities..."
"...my cousin awakened beast affinity with a Tier Two..."
"...someone from the capital used an Astral Stone last year..."
"...that's royalty, idiot..."
Zero listened quietly.
Fusion Stones.
Every person on Nyxara used one during awakening.
The stones connected the soul to the Prime Nexus—the world consciousness itself.
Through that connection:
affinities awakened, essence cores formed, futures began
At least for most people.
Klaus folded his arms.
"Honestly, I don't care what tier mine is."
Zero glanced at him.
"You should."
"Nah." Klaus grinned lazily. "I'll become the Beast Sovereign eventually anyway."
Several nearby villagers snorted in amusement.
Others simply rolled their eyes.
The dream again.
Klaus had talked about beasts since childhood.
Not taming them.
Not hunting them.
Ruling them.
Most people treated it like an embarrassing obsession he'd eventually outgrow.
He never did.
Klaus suddenly looked toward Zero.
"What about you?"
Zero frowned slightly.
"What about me?"
"You nervous?"
A brief silence followed.
Around them, the village buzzed with excitement.
Children chased each other through muddy streets pretending to cast affinities they didn't yet possess.
Parents discussed academy costs.
Hunters spoke quietly about the Citadel.
Everyone was looking forward.
Everyone except him.
"...A little," Zero admitted finally.
Klaus stared for a second before laughing.
"You?"
Zero ignored him.
But the truth remained.
He was nervous.
Because at nearly sixteen—
He still couldn't sense essence.
Not even slightly.
That wasn't normal.
Most children sensed traces of essence years before awakening.
Weakly.
Faintly.
But enough.
Zero had nothing.
Nothing at all.
And deep inside himself, something cold whispered constantly that weakness was unacceptable.
He hated that feeling.
Because he didn't understand where it came from.
The rest of the morning passed slowly.
Awakening season preparations spread across the village rapidly.
Families repaired old ceremonial clothing.
The village elder inspected the shrine where the awakening would occur.
Hunters returned carrying supplies from nearby towns.
For once, Ashvale felt alive.
Hopeful.
Zero watched most of it from a distance.
Near the edge of the square, several boys around his age practiced basic combat forms beneath the supervision of an older hunter.
No essence.
No affinities.
Just physical conditioning.
People under sixteen couldn't properly use essence techniques yet even if they possessed talent.
Their bodies weren't fully connected to the Prime Nexus until awakening.
Still—
Some were clearly progressing.
Rick and Riley moved through spear forms confidently.
Dren practiced sword drills with visible precision.
Others sparred nearby while villagers watched proudly.
Klaus suddenly jogged toward them.
"Come on."
Zero didn't move.
"I'll pass."
"You always pass."
"I don't like crowds."
"You don't like breathing either apparently."
Klaus grabbed his sleeve anyway.
Zero sighed quietly before allowing himself to be dragged over.
The moment they approached, conversations shifted slightly.
Not openly hostile.
Just awkward.
People noticed him.
They always noticed him.
The scars.
The silence.
The strange emptiness around him.
"...that's him..."
"...still hasn't sensed essence..."
"...poor kid..."
"...thought he'd awaken early too..."
"...such a shame..."
The whispers were softer now than they used to be.
Less mocking.
More pitying.
Zero almost preferred the mockery.
Dren glanced toward him briefly while wiping sweat from his forehead.
"You training today?"
Zero nodded once.
"Later."
Dren hesitated before speaking again.
"...You should probably focus more on awakening exercises."
Klaus frowned immediately.
"He knows that."
"I'm just saying."
The problem was—
Dren wasn't even trying to insult him anymore.
That somehow felt worse.
Zero turned away before the conversation could continue.
He heard Klaus curse quietly behind him before following.
For a while neither spoke.
Eventually Klaus shoved his hands into his pockets.
"They're idiots."
"They're realistic."
Klaus looked annoyed immediately.
"That's not the same thing."
Zero didn't answer.
Because part of him understood the villagers.
If someone reached sixteen without sensing essence—
Their future was usually decided already.
As evening settled over Ashvale, lanterns slowly began lighting across the village.
Warm orange lights flickered beneath windows while distant laughter drifted through the roads.
Awakening season excitement had infected almost everyone.
Almost.
Zero sat behind the house beneath an old oak tree, sharpening a hunting knife against smooth stone.
Shk.
Shk.
Shk.
The repetitive sound filled the silence.
He wasn't really paying attention.
His thoughts kept wandering.
To awakening.
To essence.
To the quiet fear he refused to acknowledge.
A soft creak came from behind him.
Mira stepped outside carrying folded clothes against her chest.
She looked toward him and smiled.
"There you are."
Zero glanced upward briefly.
"Hm."
Without asking, she sat beside him.
For a while neither spoke.
Only the sound of crickets and steel against stone filled the air.
Then she sighed.
"You've been thinking too much lately."
Zero kept sharpening.
"I always think."
"Not like this."
Silence.
"You know..." she said softly, "...when your father first found you in the forest, you wouldn't even look at us."
His hand slowed.
"You remember that?"
Mira looked offended.
"Of course I do."
She smiled faintly.
"You used to sit near the walls and stare at windows."
"..."
"I think you believed we were going to disappear."
Zero stared at the knife quietly.
Because strangely—
he couldn't deny it.
Even now...
Some part of him still expected that.
Mira suddenly flicked his forehead.
Thwack.
Zero blinked.
"...Why?"
"Because you're overthinking again."
He rubbed his forehead.
"...Violence."
Mira smiled triumphantly.
For a moment—
just a moment—
the heaviness inside him eased.
Then voices drifted faintly from the nearby road.
Villagers returning home.
"...awakening next week..."
"...heard old man Rowan got the stones already..."
"...Klaus will probably do well..."
"...what about the other boy..."
"...don't know..."
The voices faded into the distance.
Zero stared ahead quietly.
The sharpening stone had stopped moving.
Awakening.
One week.
Just one week left.
And for reasons he couldn't explain—
his chest suddenly felt heavy.