Alex went home and saw his father still not finished cooking dinner. The smell of sautéed meat and herbs filled the house, warm and comforting after the long day. The clanking of utensils echoed softly from the kitchen as Zevi moved with practiced ease.
Without wasting time, Alex rushed past the dining area and headed straight to the room where Luna was sleeping.
He gently pushed the door open.
Inside, the room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of a lantern placed near the window. Luna lay peacefully in her crib, her tiny chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.
Alex smiled.
"Hey there, little one…" he whispered, stepping closer.
Just as he was about to lean in—
"Alex."
His mother's voice cut through the quiet.
Alice stood by the doorway, arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixed on him.
"Shower first before getting close to your sister. You stink."
Alex froze.
Then slowly… he sniffed his clothes.
Then his armpit.
"MOOOOM! That's mean! I don't stink!"
Alice raised an eyebrow.
Alex sniffed again.
"…Okay, maybe a little," he muttered.
"Go," Alice said, pointing toward the bathroom.
Grumbling under his breath, Alex obeyed. "I was just saying hi…"
Moments later, the sound of running water filled the house.
After a quick but thorough shower, Alex stepped out, his hair still damp. The exhaustion from the day lingered in his body, but it was overshadowed by something else—
Excitement.
Anticipation.
Tomorrow was the Awakening Ceremony.
As he walked into the dining area, he saw that the food had already been served. The table was filled with simple but hearty dishes—steamed rice, roasted meat, vegetables, and soup.
Zevi looked up from his seat.
"Alex, come. Let's eat."
Alex quickly took his seat.
For a moment, the three of them ate in silence. The atmosphere was calm, but there was an unspoken tension in the air.
Alex couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Dad…" he began, placing his spoon down.
Zevi looked at him.
"Tomorrow is the Awakening Ceremony Day. What do you think I will awaken?"
Alice and Zevi exchanged glances.
A silent conversation passed between them.
Alex noticed.
"…What?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Zevi cleared his throat.
"Well… before asking what you will awaken, you should understand the stages first."
Alex leaned forward, listening intently.
"There are stages of talent—just like bloodline rankings," Zevi continued. "They are categorized into seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"Red is the lowest. Violet is the highest."
Alex nodded slowly.
Then he tilted his head.
"But… is violet really the highest?"
Zevi hesitated.
Again, he glanced at Alice.
Then he looked back at Alex.
"No," he said. "There is something above violet… but only a few can reach it."
Alex's eyes widened slightly.
"What is it?"
"The gold tier," Zevi said quietly. "Gold-tier talent… or gold-tier bloodline."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Alex felt his heartbeat quicken.
"Gold…" he repeated.
Then another question came to his mind.
"Then how will I know if I'm going to awaken a talent… or a bloodline?"
Zevi leaned back slightly, folding his arms.
"In the Awakening Ceremony, you will place your hands on the Stone Stele," he explained.
Alex nodded.
"If you awaken a talent, the stele will glow with all seven colors at first. Then, one by one, the other colors will fade—until only one remains. That final color will determine your talent rank."
Alex imagined it in his mind.
A glowing stone.
Colors shifting.
Fading.
Leaving only one behind.
"And if it's a bloodline?" he asked.
"Then the numbers on the stele will light up," Zevi said. "From one to seven. One is the lowest… seven is the highest."
Alex leaned even closer.
"And the gold tier?"
Zevi's expression became serious.
"The numbers will glow… in gold."
Alex swallowed.
That image alone made his chest tighten.
"Dad…" Alex said, his voice suddenly more determined. "You promised me that you would teach me how to fight after the Awakening Ceremony, right?"
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
"Hahahahaha!"
Both Zevi and Alice burst out laughing.
Alex frowned.
"Dad! I'm serious!"
Zevi wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling.
"You really are eager, huh?"
"I am!" Alex insisted. "I want to get stronger."
Alice smiled softly, watching her son.
Zevi leaned forward slightly.
"Alright," he said. "I promised, didn't I? After your awakening… I'll teach you."
Alex's face lit up.
But then—
His expression changed.
"Dad… I have something to tell you."
Zevi's smile faded slightly.
"What is it?"
Alex took a breath.
Then he began telling him everything that happened at the playground.
About Draco.
About the fight.
About how things suddenly changed.
"When I was fighting Draco and the others…" Alex said slowly, choosing his words carefully, "I felt something."
Zevi and Alice both became attentive.
"My movements… became more refined," Alex continued. "I became faster. Stronger."
He clenched his fist slightly.
"And their movements… they became slow. Not actually slow—but when I was analyzing them, it felt like everything was clearer."
Zevi's eyes narrowed.
Alice's expression turned serious.
"I could see what they were going to do before they even did it," Alex added. "Like… my body was moving on its own."
Silence filled the room again.
This time—
Heavier.
Zevi leaned back, his gaze deep in thought.
"I already checked your body earlier," he said after a while. "But we didn't find anything unusual."
Alex looked confused.
"Then what is it?"
Zevi exhaled slowly.
"I guess… your body is awakening earlier than expected."
Alex froze.
"…Earlier?"
Alice placed her hand on the table, her fingers tightening slightly.
"That's not common," she said quietly.
Zevi nodded.
"It's rare… but not impossible."
Alex looked between his parents.
"So… is that good or bad?"
Zevi looked at him directly.
"That depends."
On what?
Alex wanted to ask—but something in his father's tone stopped him.
"It could mean you have a strong foundation," Zevi continued. "Or… it could mean your body is under strain."
Alice's eyes softened.
"Did you feel any pain?" she asked.
Alex shook his head.
"No… it actually felt natural."
Zevi leaned forward again, studying him carefully.
"Did you lose control?"
"No."
"Did your vision blur? Did you feel dizzy?"
"No."
"Any unusual heartbeat? Breathing issues?"
Alex shook his head each time.
Zevi finally relaxed slightly.
"Then it's likely a positive sign."
Alex let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"But…" Zevi added.
Alex stiffened again.
"Don't rely on that feeling too much," Zevi said firmly. "You don't understand it yet. Until you do, treat it as something unstable."
Alex nodded.
"I understand."
Alice reached out and gently placed her hand on Alex's head.
"Just be careful," she said softly.
"I will."
After dinner, the house gradually quieted down.
Luna was asleep again.
Alice was cleaning the kitchen.
Zevi stepped outside for some air.
Alex stood by the window, looking up at the night sky.
The moon hung high above, casting a soft glow over the land.
Tomorrow.
Everything would change tomorrow.
His fists clenched unconsciously.
Talent… or bloodline…
What will I awaken?
Gold tier.
The thought lingered in his mind.
Then—
He remembered the fight.
The feeling.
The clarity.
The control.
"…Earlier awakening…" he murmured.
A small smile formed on his lips.
"No matter what it is…"
His eyes sharpened.
"I'll become strong."
Outside, Zevi stood quietly under the night sky, his gaze distant.
Alice stepped beside him.
"You're thinking about it too," she said.
Zevi nodded.
"If what he said is true…"
Alice crossed her arms.
"Then he's not normal."
Zevi let out a low breath.
"I know."
Silence.
Then—
"The Awakening Ceremony tomorrow…" Alice said. "Do you think he'll—"
"I don't know," Zevi cut in.
But his expression said otherwise.
Something was coming.
Something unusual.
And tomorrow—
They would finally see it.