Ael woke before dawn, long before the city stirred. The morning light had barely begun to touch the rooftops when he was already sitting upright on his bed, staring at the faint shimmer of Ether dust lingering in the air like threads of glass. His chest rose and fell with an uneven rhythm, excitement and nervousness intertwining so tightly he could no longer tell them apart.
Today wasn't just any day. It was his first raid — his first real step into the world he'd dreamt of since awakening. And as the only rookie awakener assigned to this rift run, he was determined not to falter.
He exhaled deeply and whispered the word that had become second nature to him.
"Status."
The translucent screen unfolded before his eyes, a cool, radiant blue that reflected faintly against his skin.
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STATUS SCREEN
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Name: Elyrion Vaelora
Race: ???
Ether Core Level: 1 (0/100)
Title: The Vessel
Class: Ether Paragon (Unique)
Class Skill: Ether Manipulation
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Stats:
Strength : 20
Agility : 20
Vitality : 20 [HP: 200 / 200]
Stamina : 20
Intelligence : 20 [Ether: 200 / 200]
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Skills:
Ethereal Weaponry(A) - 5%
Barrier(E*) - 10%
Sun of Oblivion(S) - 1%
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His eyes lingered on the small asterisk beside Barrier. It pulsed faintly, as if alive. He still hadn't figured out what it meant — whether it was a condition waiting to be fulfilled or a warning that the spell's potential hadn't yet been stabilized. Whatever it was, it fascinated him.
He had spent hours studying the numbers, testing the limits of his control. The percentages beside each skill had been a revelation; mastery wasn't just theory — it was measurable. Each fraction of progress meant smoother Ether flow, lower strain, and deeper harmony with the current that ran through his veins. When he first discovered that, it had been like unlocking another layer of truth hidden within himself.
He knew how vital that control was. Without it, even simple constructs could spiral into chaos. He remembered how much effort it took to sustain Sun of Oblivion even for a few seconds — how it consumed not just his Ether but his will. He couldn't even imagine what a fully mastered version might look like.
He closed the status window and stood, stretching as the first faint glow of dawn seeped into his room.
Downstairs, the familiar scent of toasted bread and fresh herbs greeted him. His mother, Lira, was already moving about the kitchen while his sister Kara leaned lazily against the counter, spooning jam straight from the jar. Isla, his best friend, peeked out from behind a book. It was an ordinary morning, and yet every heartbeat reminded them all that it wasn't.
"So, little brother," Kara began with a grin, "ready to impress your guild? Or are you planning to trip over your own sword the moment you enter the rift?"
Ael chuckled and sat down, grabbing a slice of bread. "Do you really think someone who's been training with Lyra Emberfall herself is going to fail an E-rank raid? Did you forget that my stats are comparable to a level five awakener?"
"Oh forgive me, your majesty," Kara said, bowing dramatically. "I forgot we were speaking to Ael, the God of Ether."
The words struck deeper than she knew. Ael froze mid-bite, an invisible chill running through him. God of Ether. If only she knew how close to the truth — and how far from it — that phrase really was.
Lira caught his silence and mistook it for nerves. She came closer, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. "She's teasing. Don't carry it too heavily, Ael. Just promise me you'll be careful. Don't overexert yourself. Do what's expected and come back safe, that's all I ask."
He swallowed the lump in his throat and smiled faintly. "I will, Mother. I promise."
He stood, shouldered his gear, and looked around the room once more — the warmth, the smell, the faint light spilling through the window. He memorized it all before stepping out.
The door shut behind him with a soft thud, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
His mother clasped her hands together, whispering something under her breath. Kara, still pretending to be indifferent, looked down at the table, her knuckles whitening around the spoon. Even Isla closed her book, staring at the closed door as if she could still see him through it.
They all knew how fragile the first raid could be.
…
By the time Ael reached the city gate, the sun had begun to climb over the walls, scattering light across the cobbled streets. He spotted a few figures gathered near the shimmering outline of the rift gate — eight in total, armored but relaxed, each with the quiet confidence of those who had survived before.
He straightened his posture, adjusted his gloves, and walked toward them.
"Hey everyone," he said, trying to sound casual. "I'm Ael, the rookie for today's run. Has your team worked together before?"
A tall boy with tanned skin and messy black hair turned, offering a firm handshake. "So this is the prodigy Lyra's been training," he said with an easy grin. "Name's Brandon. I'm part of the raid unit. We've been running together for about six months — levels six to nine, except for the boss here," he nodded toward a woman standing slightly apart from the group, "she's D-rank, level eleven."
Ael followed his gaze.
The woman stepped forward, her golden eyes sharp as polished metal. Her brown hair was tied into a tight ponytail, her armor clean and efficient — no ornament, only purpose.
"I'm Amanda," she said. "Team leader and your caretaker for today. Don't take it personally if we don't call you back after this — I only take provisional members outside my core team."
There was no hostility in her tone, only professionalism.
Ael bowed his head slightly. "None taken. I'm here to learn — and to make sure I don't get in your way."
Amanda's lips curved faintly, almost approvingly. "Good answer."
Over the next few minutes, the rest of the team trickled in — a pair of twin mages bickering over whose staff was better, a quiet healer adjusting her gloves, a bulky warrior humming under his breath. The camaraderie between them was clear. Ael felt both out of place and quietly determined to prove himself worthy of standing among them.
Amanda called out over the chatter. "Final check! Potions, gear, weapons!"
The air around them began to thrum. The rift shimmered like a living curtain of glass and mist, swirling with deep violet energy. One by one, the team members stepped through.
Ael was left last — partly by design, partly out of superstition. The rookie always entered last.
He stared at the surface of the rift, its colors twisting like liquid flame. His heart pounded against his ribs, and for the first time, doubt crept in.
Will I really be able to handle this?
He clenched his fists and whispered, "Today marks my first rift. Let's make it count."
Then he stepped forward.
The world bent.
Cold. Weightless. The sensation of falling without moving. Ether pressed against his skin like thousands of invisible threads, testing, probing, rewriting the very air around him. When his boots finally struck solid ground again, his breath came in ragged gasps.
He looked around — the landscape was alien yet familiar. A sky fractured into endless shades of purple and gold, forests that shimmered with light even in shadow, and air so thick with mana it hummed against the skin.
He smiled, despite himself.
"This…" he whispered, "…this is incredible."
Amanda turned toward him, already surveying their surroundings. "Stay alert. You'll have time to marvel later. The mana density here is high, but it can mess with your senses if you're not focused."
Ael nodded quickly. His heartbeat was still uneven, but his mind was clear.
Each of the team members fell into formation, their movements practiced and precise. He followed near the rear, observing the rhythm of their pace, the way they signaled silently to one another.
His eyes drifted briefly toward his hand. Ether shimmered faintly beneath his skin, responding instinctively to his focus. The weight of his training with Lyra came rushing back — the countless hours of discipline, correction, failure, and repetition.
He whispered, almost to himself, "Ready."
Amanda caught the word and smirked. "We'll see, rookie."
And with that, they began their descent into the unknown heart of the rift.