Kenzo's awakening was not exactly pleasant. For the past two months, he had done only one thing: educate himself in order to survive in hostile environments. Since he could not enroll in « Combat Training », he had settled for basic physical exercises in his room.
He still remembered that passage he had read in an old book—a bald man who had become absurdly strong by repeating three simple exercises every day. That anecdote had stayed with him, enough for him to adopt a strict discipline, even if the results were still modest.
After finishing his morning routine, he prepared himself carefully. His gaze lingered for a moment on the room he was about to leave—one of the many chambers in Yareth's vast suite. This place, far more luxurious than anything he had ever known, had gradually become a reassuring bubble. But the time to leave had come.
He opened the door and stepped into the silent corridor. His footsteps carried him to the living room, where he spotted Yareth seated with Lord Karim.
For the first time, the prince did not wear his usual smile. His features seemed tense, more serious than usual. But the moment their eyes met, the mask returned: Yareth regained that confident, almost arrogant expression that defined him.
– « So, ready for the test? » he asked lightly.
– « No… but you're not exactly giving me a choice. » Kenzo replied with a faint forced smile.
Lord Karim observed them for a moment, then rose gravely.
– « I will take you to the chamber where your Fragment is located. It is seven in the morning. Entry into the Fragment is scheduled for precisely eight o'clock. I advise you not to delay. »
– « Alright. » the two boys replied almost in unison.
They set off, following Lord Karim's steps. As they passed through a corridor lined with dark tapestries, Kenzo noticed something about his companion: two thick gold bracelets circled Yareth's wrists.
– « What are those? » he asked, intrigued.
– « As you may have noticed, I don't wear armor. For royalty, armor has to be earned by killing a Void Creature. These bracelets… are artifacts. I obtained them during my first test. » Yareth explained plainly.
A pang of envy passed through Kenzo. During his own first test, he had received no such reward. But he knew nothing would ever be handed to him for free: if he wanted an artifact, he too would have to kill a Deviant Void Creature.
The path they followed had little in common with the usual corridors of the Royal Academy. Beyond the outer grounds and the ceremony hall, the place resembled a grand institution of study and training. But this part of the complex felt different: reinforced doors, guards with closed expressions, glowing runes along the walls… everything pointed to a place of high security.
After passing several staircases and locked corridors, they finally reached the preparation room.
Inside, two figures stood when they arrived. Kenzo narrowed his eyes to make out their faces. His heart jolted when he recognized one of them… Lucian.
The young man stood at the same time as his companion, and both gave Yareth a respectful bow. After all, he remained a prince, even here.
Kenzo immediately looked away, avoiding Lucian's gaze. It wasn't hatred, no. But Lucian gave him the same feeling as when one happened to see a puppy—a presence that did not inspire anger, only a vague discomfort for no clear reason.
Yareth turned to him and announced confidently:
– « Good morning. Kenzo, let me introduce Donovan Kent and Lucian Felicis. They'll be accompanying us into the Fragment. »
Kenzo studied Donovan, a young man with brown hair and eyes of the same shade, clad in a full suit of armor whose scales resembled those of some mythical fish. Beside him, Lucian looked much more like Kenzo—no armor, no visible weapon.
Lord Karim spoke then, his voice echoing through the room like a tolling bell.
– « Entries into the Fragment are divided over two days. Roughly two hundred and forty Awakened will enter today into the respective Fragments of their teams. The rest will follow tomorrow. Please prepare yourselves. It is now eight o'clock… »
At those words, he walked into an adjoining room and returned carrying something that instantly drew every eye: a book.
Its cover was a pure white, crossed with golden filigree shaped in ominous patterns. Just looking at it, Kenzo felt a strange melancholy rise inside him, mixed with a dull anger, as if the object itself carried a painful memory.
Lord Karim explained in a solemn voice:
– « This book is a level-two Fragment, meant for those who aspire to become Transfigured. It tells the story of a tragic love between two people from rival clans. Their romance ends in death and a bloody war between their families. Your mission will be to prevent that conflict… or, if that proves impossible, to prevent those two from falling in love. »
Yareth stepped forward, placing himself before the book with determination.
– « All of you, place your hand on my back. » he ordered.
They obeyed. Kenzo, though curious, followed suit. The moment he placed his hand there, he felt once again that strange force emanating from Yareth. His Orb reappeared, as bright and majestic as it had been during the first test.
The prince extended his hand, seized the Orb… and shattered it without hesitation.
A violent sensation of suction seized Kenzo's body. His breath cut off, his senses reeled, and in the span of a heartbeat he found himself in the void.
But this time, something was different. The mirror appeared once again before him, revealing his reflection. He had changed since the first trial: still thin, with tired eyes ringed by shadows, but taller, his body a little firmer, and that white lock in his hair drawing attention like a silent scar.
As he stared at that unsettling reflection, a voice echoed through the void—the same sinister voice he had heard at the beginning and end of his first test.
[You have entered an unstable Fragment.Number of participants: 240The trial toward Transfiguration is about to begin.]
The words struck like an irrevocable sentence.
Kenzo felt his stomach knot.
– « Wait… whaaat?! An unstable Fragment?! »