The afternoon sunlight filtered through the academy's wide windows as the bell chimed across the halls. Azztheo sat quietly in his seat, still absorbing the information the female instructor had shared with the class. The ranks, the affinities, the stories of those mythical beings — it all felt too grand, too distant. And yet, a tiny shard tucked safely in his bag reminded him that fate might not leave him in the ordinary.
"Alright, that's enough theory," the instructor said, clapping her hands once. Her voice was crisp but not unkind. "Time for practical lessons. Start heading to the practice grounds. Everyone, line up and go to the training ground."
The class moved in a loose, noisy herd. Some students were chatting excitedly, some showing off and joking with each other. Azztheo followed quietly, Jake beside him, giving him brief overview of the basics.
The practice grounds were enormous — a circular arena surrounded by stone seating and training equipment. One side was a gym-like section filled with machines, another had open space with target dummies, weighted platforms, and strange glowing rings inlaid into the floor.
"The instructor was already waiting for them, after they came he turned around and addressed them, " Hello everyone and to the new student I am instructor Jonathan and this is your training field. Until you awaken and reach the necessary physique level, your focus will be simple: building strength, enhancing your core, and learning combat basics."
He paused and pointed a machine in the middle of the field. "We call this the Power testing machine. It evaluates your current stats and gives you your total power level. Come on warm up every one for 30 minutes." after everyone started roing some basic warm up. Jonathan said "Everyone, line up and test yourselves. Let's see where you all stand"
One by one, the students stepped up to the column and placed their palm on the cool, black surface. A gentle hum would rise, and glowing numbers would appear above the stone.
"42.""48.""51 – Congratulations, you're eligible for awakening.""45.""49."
Jake stepped up, breathing in sharply. He placed his hand against the pillar.
"Physique: 43. Total Power: 43."
He slumped slightly, and Azztheo patted his back. "Hey, it's okay. You'll get there."
Jake nodded. "Yeah… I just need seven more points."
Finally, it was Azztheo's turn. He hesitated — he didn't even know his own physical strength level. Back in the town, his dad had never let him try anything risky or train seriously. Just basic running, lifting crates, helping fix things. Would that even count?
He stepped up, placed his palm flat on the testing machine.
The glowed and showed the numbers… then began increase the digits.
"Physique: 48. Total Power: 48."
Jealous murmur rose among the class. The instructor raised an eyebrow. "Well. We've got an early awakener here."
Azztheo was too stunned to react. Jake slapped his shoulder excitedly. "Dude! You are almost 50 stats, just need to build your physique a little eat and sleep you are eligible and look at me still stuck here!"
The instructor happy and nodded at him. "Report to the medical building after this. You'll be scheduled for your first serum injection and guided awakening. But first — we train and you will reach 50 soon."
Training was grueling.
Despite being eligible for early awakening, Azztheo quickly learned he was far behind in actual conditioning. Push-ups, weight-lifting, reflex drills, and endurance laps had his muscles screaming by mid-morning.
Jake struggled too, but he kept encouraging Azztheo. "Don't slow down, man! You got that power potential. Don't waste it!" I replied "Yes, dude you too, lets do our best".
By the time they were allowed to rest, Azztheo collapsed under a tree near the edge of the training grounds. Sweat drenched his shirt. He lay on the grass, panting.
He reached into his bag and pulled out the broken photo frame. Carefully, he unfolded his father's letter again and read the last line:
"Stay strong, son, when I'm not with you anymore."
His eyes lingered on the shard, shimmering with an almost invisible glow.
He turned it in his fingers.
What are you?
"Hey," someone said from nearby.
Azztheo looked up to see a tall girl with short silver hair and a sharp, no-nonsense expression. She wore the same academy uniform, but her collar had a three-star insignia.
"You're the new one, right? The boy from the destroyed town by the demons."
He nodded, unsure what to say.
"I'm Lyra. Third year. I was asked to keep an eye on you."
"…Why?" Azztheo asked.
"Because first-time awakenings sometimes go wrong," she replied bluntly. "Especially for orphans. Emotional instability, uncontrolled powers. We've had such incidents."
Azztheo blinked. "Oh."
She looked him over once, eyes narrowing. "You don't look unstable. Just sad. That's fine. Sadness burns slower so i guess you are good to go."
Azztheo replied " So i am not gonna be kept watched on, thank god!
"Dont count on it, I will still keep eye on you just not that tight, dont want any complications and get screwed over it". She was about to turned and leave, but paused. "If you survive the injection, come find me. I'll show you how to fight properly."
And just like that, she was gone.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. More drills. More sweat. Then a short lecture on discipline and the ethics of power. Then lunch — with some extra meat for nutrition — followed by more stretching and muscle-building work.
When the evening bell rang, Azztheo dragged himself back to his dorm. His arms felt like lead. His legs shook with every step.
He showered, ate a piece of fruit he found in the cafeteria corner, and lay down on the bed.
Jake knock his door and welcomed himself, "Still alive?"
"Barely."
"You'll get used to it."
Azztheo chuckled faintly. "I hope so." after some talk he went to rest early, probably tired as he works really hard to increase his physique stats
.
Azztheo held the shard once more before placing it under his pillow.
"Soon," he whispered, "I'll be strong enough to figure you out. And to find you, Dad."
He closed his eyes to get some sleep too .
Outside, the moon rose over Velmora, ever beautifully.
And somewhere deep inside the academy, the shard pulsed—once—ever so faintly, like a heartbeat waiting to awaken.