The sound of water hitting stone was the first thing Vex heard.No shouting. No footsteps.Just the echo of the shower, and steam fogging the mirror.
He had woken up at exactly six.The sun had yet to cross Olympo's outer walls.And he was alone in the room.
He didn't bother checking if Kaen or Elois had slept there.He showered in silence, dressed slowly…And left.
The morning air across the academy was colder than usual.Or maybe… it was just his body that couldn't warm up.
He walked straight to the training hall.
And there, surprisingly, he found them.
Kaen and Elois.
Kaen practiced trident movements with methodical precision.Elois… was attempting a new spinning technique, failing most of the time—but smiling anyway.
— "Early birds?" Vex said with a half-smile.
— "The shadow archer returns!" Elois replied, spinning."We were betting if you'd show up with a new bandage or just dignity."
— "I won," Kaen added without stopping."You always show up."
Vex chuckled softly.He walked over.They paused their training—just to talk.
Kaen and Elois, sweaty, tired… but steady.Vex joined the small circle with a quiet smile, still feeling the chill of the morning on his skin.
— "Yesterday wasn't great," Vex said.
— "No," Kaen replied. "But it was real."
— "It was… necessary," Elois added, more serious than usual."Now we know what falling feels like.Which means the next thing… can only be going up."
— "If we go up," Vex said.
Kaen raised the trident.
— "We will.Together."
The three of them bumped fists—a silent pact.
That day, they weren't just Terna anymore.They were the ones who wouldn't stay defined by the name.
The next class was different.
They entered a smaller, more modern room, with floating screens, circular benches, and a woman with golden eyes and a black coat standing in the center.
Professor Syrell.A renowned scientist in the field of Celestia Resonance.
— "Welcome to Theory of Genetic Resonance," she began."Or, as I prefer to call it…the art of remembering what we never lived."
The screens began projecting gene structures, brain waves, and arcane symbols.
— "In this universe, genetic memory is not just a biological instruction manual.It is a library.A vast collection of dormant neural circuits."
— "The Celestia Dream doesn't just awaken abilities.It awakens memories.Shortcut access to what an ancestor once was, felt, or mastered."
Images of ancient warriors, scientists, artists, and alchemists appeared on the screens.
— "When the planet's frequencies—altered by the yellow sky and the twin moons—sync with an individual's…Resonance is triggered."
— "This creates not only abilities, but rhythmic, personalized mutations."
— "A warrior may gain speed.A descendant of Newton… might alter gravity.An alchemist's heir… might see the elements dance."
— "For us, magic is not a gift.It is an echo.And that echo only answers when called with the right voice."
Vex was fascinated.For the first time, he didn't feel lesser for not having awakened.He felt like… he just hadn't heard his echo yet.
— "Three kinds of people," Syrell continued:
Those who know their ancestor.They usually come from powerful families. They can train, wait for their awakening.
Those who have none.Their lineage was lost. Cut. Maybe it never existed. Or maybe it was forgotten.
And those who don't know.They descend from someone important… but don't know it.And their echo sleeps—until the world decides to call it.
— "And remember…"
— "Only one per generation awakens.And even that… is not guaranteed."
— "Because this world doesn't reward those who are born ready.It rewards those who endure what others cannot."
After class, Elois and Kaen headed to the combat zone.
— "You coming?" Elois asked.
— "Later. I want to train alone for a bit," Vex replied.
— "Watch that arm, archer," Kaen added.
— "Watch that head, living spear," Vex shot back, smiling.
He made his way to the physical training wing.Alone.
He started with breathing drills, squats, push-ups.Training in silence—his mind doing all the talking.
"One per generation…""What if I'm not the one?""What if I never am?"
— "You beat yourself up too quickly," said a voice.
Aric.Leaning against a column, arms crossed.
— "I'm training," Vex replied, without looking at him.
— "You're punishing yourself."Pause.— "Not the same thing."
Vex sighed.Lowered his arms.
— "How do you get past that feeling?"
— "You don't," Aric said, walking toward him."You use it."
— "Every failure is a brick.And if you stack them right, you can build a tower…"
— "…or a tomb."
— "How do you know which one it is?"
— "Depends on whether you stand up after the next hit."
Vex looked at him for the first time.
Aric was still serious.But not distant.
— "This weekend, I'm giving a special class.Only for a select few observers."
— "Want to come?"
— "Me?"
— "You."
Vex didn't answer.He just nodded.
And for the first time since arriving at Olympo…
…he felt like the world hadn't forgotten him after all.