As the awakening finally ended, Kalen's first thought was simple, if it had lasted even a moment longer, he might not have made it. His body still trembled faintly, every muscle sore and heavy, but beneath the exhaustion there was something else life. Real, burning life. A shaky smile tugged at his lips as relief washed over him. He was still here. He had survived.
When he tried to move, the pain reminded him that he was still human, but the changes were impossible to ignore. His body felt… new. Not stronger exactly, but alive in a way it had never been before. Each breath came with a strange rhythm, and with every inhale, he felt it — faint streams of warmth from the world around him, flowing gently into his chest. His mind was drained, foggy, like after days without sleep, yet deep inside, something glowed quietly. It wasn't pride or victory it was peace. For the first time, his very being felt happy just to exist. This feeling is completely new as he never felt anything like this in his entire life.
Kalen sat still, caught between exhaustion and excitement, his thoughts drifting in a hazy blur when Sharry's voice pulled him back. "How are you feeling?" she asked softly, stepping closer to the chamber's console. Her eyes scanned the monitors, following the gentle fluctuations that showed his body steadily recovering. Only when she confirmed it did she let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Good… your body is healing well," she said, her tone calm but firm. "For now, keep practicing the breathing technique constantly, if you can. It'll help your body adapt faster to the new changes and stabilize the energy inside you. Once your system settles, we'll guide you toward the next stage." She paused, giving him a faint, reassuring smile. "Don't overthink what you feel or discover during this time. Just focus on breathing and sensing the flow. After you've rested, head back to your residence and come to hall during evening for lunch. We'll continue from there."
After focusing on his breathing for nearly an hour, Kalen finally felt the heaviness in his body fade away. Strength began to return to his limbs his legs felt firm, his arms steady, as if a single strike at full force could shatter bone. Rising slowly, he noticed the subtle power coiled within his muscles, every step carrying a sense of controlled strength. Once he'd spoken briefly with Dr. Sharry, he exited through the other door, following the directions on his wristwatch's map toward his assigned residence.
By the time he arrived, the sun hung high around two in the afternoon yet he felt no hunger. His body and mind were still adjusting, still quietly healing. Inside the small room, he sat cross-legged in a lotus position and closed his eyes, returning to his steady rhythm of breathing. The silence settled around him, and with each slow breath, his thoughts grew still. Hours slipped by unnoticed. A light warmth spread through his body not heat, but a soothing vitality and he realized he felt stronger, lighter, as if he could run for hours without even breaking a sweat.
Feeling refreshed, he took a long shower, changed into a clean set of clothes, and decided to head for the dining hall a bit early. As he walked, something felt different his senses had sharpened. The air itself seemed alive, every breath carrying faint traces of the world's energy. So this is what awakening feels like… he thought, wonder flickering in his eyes. When the hall came into view, he spotted a few others arriving early as well. Opposite stood the building that housed the awakening chambers, guarded by a few officers who kept watch outside. Without thinking much of it, Kalen stepped inside the hall and began scanning the room, hoping to spot his friends among the gathering crowd.
As Kalen stepped farther into the hall, he spotted a familiar group gathered near one of the long tables. Tang Yu was the first to notice him, waving his arm so energetically it nearly knocked over a glass of water.
"There you are!" Tang Yu grinned wide, his voice echoing slightly in the half-filled hall. "I thought you'd passed out somewhere. You took your sweet time waking up!"
Kalen let out a tired smile as he walked over. "Guess I like making an entrance."
Tang Xia, sitting beside her brother, gave him a quiet nod. Her posture was composed, but the faint crease between her brows showed she'd been worried. "You look pale. Did it hit you that hard?" she asked softly.
"It felt like my body was melting from the inside," Kalen admitted, lowering himself onto the bench. "But… I'm still in one piece."
"Barely," Leo muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I thought I was going to lose my mind halfway through. The pain was unreal. Every heartbeat felt like fire."
"Tell me about it," Michael added, his tone calm but firm. "It wasn't just pain it was pressure. Like something was forcing its way into every cell. I thought my skull would split open." He let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "But we made it."
Tang Yu leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms with a satisfied groan. "Made it, he says! I thought I was going to scream the entire time but I didn't! That has to count for something."
His sister gave him a sideways glare. "You did scream. Twice."
"Details," Tang Yu said quickly, waving her off, though his grin didn't fade.
Despite their exhaustion, laughter rippled around the table. The weight of the earlier pain seemed to lift, replaced by the shared relief that they were all alive and stronger for it.
"For real," Leo said after a moment, glancing at each of them. "We all survived the first step. That's worth something."
Kalen nodded slowly. His body still ached, but deep down, a faint warmth stirred a quiet pride that they had endured together. "Yeah," he said. "It's just the beginning."
Their laughter faded slowly, replaced by the steady hum of voices filling the hall. More candidates trickled in, their steps sluggish but eyes brighter than before. Out of the fifty who had started, only twenty-seven are present. The air held a strange stillness relief, pride, and a whisper of unease that none dared voice.
The sound of the door opening cut through the low chatter. Dr. Elen stepped inside, followed closely by Sergeant Drake. Both wore the same expression not one of celebration, but of quiet gravity. Elen's usual calm was shadowed by fatigue; Drake's feels different as they awaken there sences are somewhat enhanced, they instantly pick-up the changes, but no one dare to make a sound as there sences are telling to keep the quiet.
No words were spoken, everyone could feel it something is about to happens. The easy mood dissolved, replaced by the uneasy rhythm of breaths held in waiting. Kalen felt his pulse quicken for reasons he couldn't name. For the first time since awakening, the air itself felt heavy, almost cold.
As Elen and Drake stood before them, side by side, a quiet dread settled deep in the hall the kind that comes when instincts whisper what the mind refuses to believe.