White. That's all I see at first. A blank white ceiling stretching endlessly above me. My eyes struggle to focus, my mind swimming through a haze of confusion. Where am I? What happened?
I try to move and wince as pain shoots through my body. Every muscle protests, but I manage to push myself up slightly, blinking against the harsh light.
This isn't Ashwood Haven. The room around me is pristine—crisp white walls, gleaming metal equipment, soft blue curtains hanging beside a large window that lets in streams of sunlight. A hospital room? I've never seen anything this clean, this... advanced.
A rhythmic beeping comes from a machine beside the bed. Tubes run from it to my arm. I stare at them, fascinated and confused.
A gentle knock interrupts my thoughts. The door swings open, and two figures enter—familiar faces from the chaos of my last conscious moments.
"Look who's finally awake!" Selia Drayven steps forward, her voice cheerful. Her shadow dances slightly beneath her feet, seeming almost happy. "We were starting to think you'd sleep forever."
Behind her, Kade Veyron leans against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. His blue and gold armor has been replaced with casual clothes, but he still radiates power and authority.
Selia approaches my bed, checking the monitors beside me with practiced ease. "How are you feeling? You gave us quite the scare."
"I'm..." My voice comes out as a rasp. My throat feels like sandpaper.
She immediately pours water from a nearby pitcher and holds it to my lips. The cool liquid is blissful against my parched throat.
"The kid's tougher than he looks," Kade remarks, pushing off the wall to approach the bed. "Taking a hit like that and pulling through—impressive."
His words trigger a flash of memory—the masked man, the void energy, Kade intercepting it. And then... everything before that.
The orphanage in flames. Max falling. Tarek's lifeless eyes. Finn's last stand. Nessa's scream. Keiran's blood pooling on the floor. Lyra reaching for me as the life drained from her.
I gasp, the weight of it all crashing down on me at once.
"Hey, hey," Selia's voice softens, her hand gently squeezing my shoulder. "Take it easy. You're safe now."
But I'm not. Not really. Because they're all gone. Everyone I tried to save.
"They're all dead," I whisper, staring at my hands. The same hands that held a sword but couldn't protect anyone. "Everyone... they killed everyone."
Selia's eyes fill with compassion. "I'm sorry, Cael. We... we couldn't save the others. By the time we arrived, the attack was already well underway."
"Why were you even there?" I ask, looking up at them.
Kade steps forward. "We received intelligence about suspicious activity in that sector. The Heroic Corps has been tracking the Shadow Cult for months. Unfortunately, we didn't anticipate a full-scale elimination protocol."
"Speaking of which," he continues, his tone shifting to something more professional, "I need to ask you some questions about the orphanage, if you're up for it."
I nod slowly, careful to control my expressions. I can't tell them everything—about the System, about Odin, about the Warlock's legacy.
"What was Ashwood Haven really?" Kade asks.
"A training facility," I reply, keeping my voice steady. "They took in orphans but trained them to become Hunters—people who could venture into the Dark Forest to gather resources and hunt beasts."
"And who was in charge?"
"Head Enforcer Silas Thorne. He answered to someone else though—whoever those people in the black robes and the man in the red mask represented."
Kade nods, exchanging a glance with Selia. "The Shadow Cult. They've been operating in the shadows for years keeping themselves out of the public eye, but this is the first time they've executed something this brazen."
He fixes me with an intense stare. "Which brings me to my next question. Why did the man in the mask want you so badly? He specifically targeted you."
I hesitate, then decide a partial truth is better than an obvious lie, besides I can afford let this out.
"I can use spatial magic," I admit. "I discovered it recently. Maybe they detected it somehow."
Their eyes widen simultaneously.
"Space affinity?" Selia asks, leaning closer. "That's incredibly rare."
"I can feel your aura" Kade says, studying me intently. "Mid F-rank, but space manipulation? That's an ability most awakeners never achieve, even at higher ranks."
Selia sits on the edge of my bed. "No wonder they wanted you. Space users are valuable"
"What happens now?" I ask, trying to sound innocent rather than calculating.
Kade runs a hand through his hair and exchanges a quick glance with Selia. "Well, actually, our supervisor has authorized a reward as compensation for what happened. The Corps takes partial responsibility for not detecting the Shadow Cult's activities sooner."
Selia nods, her expression brightening. "Basically, you get to choose something—within reason, of course. It has to be something the Heroic Corps can actually provide."
I blink, processing this unexpected turn. "A reward?"
"Within reasonable limits," Kade emphasizes.
"I'm sorry, but..." I hesitate, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Who are you guys, exactly? What are the Heroic Corps?"
They both stare at me for a moment before Selia bursts into laughter. Even Kade's serious expression cracks with an amused smile.
"Of course you wouldn't know," Selia says, her shadow rippling beneath her as she shakes her head. "Makes perfect sense, considering where you've been."
"The Heroic Corps is the primary peacekeeping organization across the Human Domain," Kade explains. "We're elite Awakeners who protect civilians from threats—whether they're beasts, criminals, or cultists like the ones you encountered."
Selia gestures to our surroundings. "You're currently in the medical bay of one of our hover carriers. We're en route to headquarters right now."
"A flying ship," I murmur, remembering the vessel that had landed at Ashwood Haven days earlier. The world beyond the orphanage walls is so much more advanced than I'd imagined.
"So," Selia continues, leaning forward, "about that reward. Any thoughts?"
I stare down at my hands, considering my options. The System remains silent, but I don't need it to recognize an opportunity. What would help me get stronger, provide access to knowledge, and position me to eventually get my revenge on the shadow cult?
Lyra's words echo in my mind—her dream of attending Valefort, the academy she'd described with such longing. A place for the elite, for those destined for greatness.
I lift my gaze, meeting their eyes with newfound determination. "I want to attend Valefort Academy."
Their reactions are immediate—Selia's eyes widen, and Kade actually pushes himself away from the wall in surprise.
"Are you... sure about that?" Selia asks carefully. "You do know what Valefort is, right? I know you're from the orphanage and have been a—" she struggles with her wording, "—an orphan and slave for most of your life, but—"
"I know it's one of the best Awakener academies in the world," I interrupt.
"No," Kade corrects me, his expression serious. "It's the best. Only sons and daughters of nobles, kings and queens, and high-ranking Awakeners are allowed to attend. It's not a place for..." He trails off, but his meaning is clear. Not a place for someone like me.
I straighten my shoulders despite the pain flaring through my body. "Well, you said I get one wish. That's what I want."
Kade's brow furrows. "Is there a reason why?"
The faces of my dead friends flash before my eyes. "I need to get stronger," I say, my voice hardening. "I need to get rid of the Shadow Cult, and for that, I need power. Real power. I need to learn from the best."
Silence falls over the room, thick and heavy. Selia and Kade exchange glances again, communicating silently.
Finally, Selia breaks the silence. "Well, by law, anyone above the age of fifteen must attend an academy. And we do have that slot for the academy that the President still hasn't used..."
"It's already been a month since the academy started," Kade points out, crossing his arms. "Would there even be a point?"
Selia shrugs, a small smile playing at her lips. "Well, that's up to the kid. But I think I can convince the President. I am his favorite, after all."
She winks at me, and for the first time since waking up, I feel something close to hope. This is it—my path forward. My chance to gain the power I'll need for what lies ahead.
Kade rubs the bridge of his nose, looking both amused and annoyed. "Fine," he says with a sigh of resignation. "We'll get confirmation for your attendance at Valefort. Once that's done, we'll prep you to get you there." He gestures toward my bandaged body. "And while that's going on, you'll need to rest. We gave you a high-grade healing pill, so you should be fine in a few minutes. We'll get you some clothes in the meantime."
He turns to leave, and Selia gets up as well, though she casts one last curious look over her shoulder before the door closes behind them.
Alone in the sterile room, I stare at the ceiling, my mind racing with everything that's happened. The orphanage. The Shadow Cult. The deaths of everyone I'd started to care about. Their faces flash before my eyes—Keiran's gentle smile, Lyra's determined gaze, Finn's easy laugh, Tarek's solid presence, Nessa's quiet strength. All gone.
And Max... who tried to warn me.
I clench my fists against the hospital sheets. I never asked for any of this—not this body, not this world, not this life. But now I'm here, and I've got power coursing through me that I barely understand.
"Odin?" I call out softly, suddenly needing confirmation that at least one thing remains constant.
{I am here, Cael} the metallic voice responds in my mind, and I exhale with relief.
{Are you sure about Valefort?} Odin asks. "The Academy is known for its rigorous standards and competitive environment. You will be entering as an outsider."
I sigh, relaxing slightly now that I know the system—and my connection to the Warlock's legacy—remains intact. "Yeah, I need to get stronger. And if it's as elite as these people keep saying it is, then that's where I'll go next."
{Understood. I am here to help you in any way I can on your journey.}
I stare at my hands, turning them over as if I might find answers written on my palms. What exactly is Odin? What is this System? Where did it come from, and what's its true agenda? .
Then again, maybe it doesn't matter right now. I'll deal with those questions when the time comes. For now, I'll use it to my advantage, the way I want to.
{You have missed several notifications since you fell unconscious} Odin interrupts my thoughts. {Would you like to view them now?}
"Bring them up," I say.
Blue text materializes before my eyes:
[You have killed a shadow cult member. You have gained EXP.]
[You have killed a shadow cult member. You have gained EXP.]
[You have killed a C-rank awakener. You have gained bonus EXP.]
The blue text continues to scroll, a stark reminder of what I've done.
I stare at the words, my stomach twisting into knots. I'd killed people. Not beasts. Not monsters. People. I'd sliced through flesh and bone, watched the light fade from their eyes, and part of me hadn't even hesitated.
"I killed them," I whisper, my voice barely audible even to myself. My hands begin to tremble. These aren't game stats anymore—they're death receipts.
In my old life, I'd never hurt anyone. Never even been in a real fight. Now I've taken lives with the same hands that once held game controllers and manga volumes.
The trembling stops suddenly as another memory surfaces—Lyra's face as the blade pierced her chest. Keiran's blood pooling beneath him. The sound Nessa made when she died.
My jaw tightens. This world isn't like the ones I read about. It's not a game where characters respawn or a story where the hero always wins without getting his hands dirty. It's cruel and merciless, and if I want to survive—if I want to avenge them—I'll need to be the same.
"I understand now," I murmur, my voice steadying. "If I'm going to live in this world, I need to embrace its darkness."
[You have failed the quest: The Chains We Choose]
My heart sinks. Of course I failed. They all died. Everyone I tried to save.
[Recalibrating quest...]
[Because of the situation of the Shadow Cult as well as the interference of the Heroic Corps, the quest completion will be determined by how you did during the crisis and your contribution]
[You have passed the quest with B+. Choose from one of the rewards below:
Endurance +5
Eye of Truth
Eye of Power]
A B+ grade for watching my friends die. For failing to save them. The System's cold calculation makes my jaw clench.
But I push down the anger. This is how the world works now—my world, anyway. And I need every advantage I can get.
"Odin, what are the Eye of Truth and Eye of Power?" I ask.
{The rewards are aspects of your gift that can be unlocked, but specific details are only revealed upon selection. This is a limitation built into the legacy transfer process} Odin explains.
I roll my eyes. "Great. So I'm supposed to choose blindly." This system is frustrating—unfair, really—forcing me to make decisions with incomplete information. But then again, what about this world has been fair so far?
I stare at the options hovering before me. Endurance +5 seems straightforward enough, but the other two are complete mysteries. My fingers drum against the crisp hospital sheets as I consider my options.
The image of the masked man flashes through my mind. His casual display of power. The way he killed Max without effort. The way he orchestrated the deaths of everyone I tried to protect.
"Eye of Power," I say firmly. The name itself suggests strength, and that's what I need most right now. I need to be stronger than them. All of them.
{Selection confirmed} Odin's voice echoes in my mind.
A sudden pressure builds behind my eyes—not painful exactly, but intense. The sensation spreads throughout my skull, like something unfurling in the recesses of my brain. My vision flickers, then stabilizes with startling clarity.
{Eye of Power has been integrated with your Infinite Eyes gift. You can now view the it's information}
The pressure behind my eyes recedes, leaving a warm, pulsing sensation throughout my body. It's like someone poured liquid fire into my veins—not burning, but energizing. Every muscle feels tighter, more responsive.
A blue window materializes before my eyes:
{ Eye of Power )
The Eye of Power grants the wielder immense destructive potential. User's strength, speed, durability and mana output are vastly amplified.
30% increase in strength, agility, endurance and mana
Grants the user the skill {Dominance Aura} this skill allows you to release a pressure of aura that is 30% above your initial magic power.
Does not work on beings two ranks above }
I blink, reading it twice to make sure I understand. Thirty percent increase across my physical attributes? That's... significant. And this Dominance Aura skill could be useful.
"Holy shit," I whisper, flexing my fingers. I can already feel the difference—a subtle but unmistakable surge of power thrumming beneath my skin. The bandages around my torso suddenly feel too tight, as if my body is straining against its constraints.
This is exactly what I needed. The Eye of Power doesn't just increase my abilities—it gives me a way to intimidate others, to establish dominance without necessarily fighting. In a place like Valefort Academy, where nobles and powerful Awakeners' children will be watching for weakness, this could be crucial.
"My A-rank luck seems to be working after all," I murmur to myself, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. For the first time since waking up in this world, I feel like the universe might be on my side. Or at least, not actively working against me.
"Odin, bring up my status screen. I want to see my updated stats."
{Displaying status screen} Odin responds, his metallic voice tinged with what almost sounds like approval.
The blue holographic display expands before my eyes, and I lean forward eagerly to see exactly how much stronger I've become.