Morning light spilled gently into the East Dorm Sector, turning the white stone walls golden. Arin blinked awake, still half-confused whether yesterday had been a dream or a nightmare.
His first thought wasn't about the academy… or the awakening…
It was a simple, confused whisper in his mind:
"Who am I… really?"
But even that vanished quickly when the door to his room slammed open.
Kai's head popped in.
His messy, cloud-fluffy hair was sticking out in every direction, as if he had fought a pillow demon all night. He wore the academy's male casual uniform — dark red shirt, black coat, loose pants — but his coat was half-buttoned and hanging off one shoulder.
Kai yawned loudly.
"Morning, brother! Did you sleep well? I dreamt of Senior Serena walking in slow motion—"
Arin sighed. "Kai… you dream about her every night?"
Kai raised a finger proudly. "Consistency is a virtue."
"Or a sickness," Arin muttered.
Kai thumped his chest. "Call it what you want. I call it motivation."
Arin couldn't help but chuckle. No matter how strange everything felt inside him, Kai's presence made it lighter… safer… normal.
Arin and Kai's room was on the second floor — two beds, two study desks, a small balcony overlooking the training field. Nothing luxurious, but surprisingly peaceful.
Next door, behind the thin shared wall, lived someone who made Kai straighten his shirt every few minutes.
Yesterday, Kai had whispered her name like he was reciting a holy scripture.
Sarena Valeheart.
The academy's brightest talent. Wealthiest heiress. The girl with a bloodline that even teachers avoided disrespecting.
The same girl whose eyes had lingered on Arin the day of the awakening.
Kai's voice lowered to a whisper.
"She's awake, you know. I heard her door move."
Arin shook his head. "Please don't scream her name through the wall."
Kai placed a hand on his shoulder with exaggerated emotion.
"Brother… I am giving you a life lesson. When a goddess lives next door, you must be brave. What if she needs sugar? Or salt? Or a man who can protect—"
Suddenly the wall next to them thumped.
Once.
Hard.
Kai froze.
A calm voice came through the wall.
"Your voices are loud so early in the morning," Sarena said, tone gentle but firm. "And I don't need sugar, salt… or a man."
Kai mouthed silently: "She heard everything."
Arin covered his face with both hands.
When the boys stepped into the hallway, Sarena's door opened too.
She walked out gracefully, as if the corridor itself straightened for her.
She was wearing the academy's morning training clothes — a fitted white tunic, light-blue sash, and black leggings with silver patterns at the edge. Her silver hair was loosely tied, some strands falling along her cheeks.
She wasn't wearing makeup, yet she looked… unreal.
Kai whispered behind Arin,
"She's glowing. I swear she's glowing. Did she bath in moonlight?"
Arin elbowed him.
Sarena glanced at them.
Her soft blue eyes paused on Arin for a heartbeat.
"Good morning," she said.
Arin nodded. "Morning."
Kai puffed his chest. "Good—"
Sarena walked away before he finished.
Kai sighed dramatically. "One day she will respond properly."
"She just did," Arin said.
Kai grabbed his shoulder. "Arin. Brother. That was not a proper response. A proper response involves eyes sparkling, hair flipping, heartbeat increasing—"
"Your heartbeat?"
"That too."
The training yard outside the dorms was already full. Students lined up for their first post-awakening assessment.
Four factions stood proudly in the yard — each group wearing subtle symbols of their families:
1. The Solar Crest Clan – golden phoenix emblem.
2. The Frostveil Court – icy blue flower crest.
3. The Ironblood Forge House – crimson armor mark.
4. The Starweave Hall – purple star sigil.
Sarena belonged to the Frostveil Court.
A few girls from her clan waved to her excitedly.
"There she is! Lady Sarena!"
"Our shining frost princess!"
"Look at her elegance—"
Kai whispered to Arin, "See? That's how you treat a goddess. Write that down."
Arin snorted.
One of the boys from Ironblood Forge elbowed his friend.
"Who's that commoner beside her? The dark-haired kid?"
"Probably someone unimportant."
"Trash awakening maybe."
Arin lowered his gaze.
Those words hit somewhere inside him…
a place that already felt empty.
He didn't know who he was.
He didn't know his family.
He didn't even know whether he had anything worth awakening.
Kai noticed his expression and spoke softly.
"Don't listen to them. They're fools. Loud fools. With small brains."
Arin forced a smile.
A hush fell over the students as two main instructors walked into the yard.
Instructor Lyria, the same calm woman from the awakening hall, stood at the front. Her black combat uniform made her look older and stricter.
Beside her was Instructor Joren, a tall man with messy red hair and a scar across his nose.
Lyria scanned the crowd.
"Today we will measure your stability, your resonance, and your combat instincts."
Joren cracked his knuckles.
"And if you fall, just stand up again. Pain builds character."
Kai whispered to Arin, "He looks like he sleeps in a volcano."
Arin tried not to laugh.
Groups of students stepped forward one by one to demonstrate their awakened affinity. Flames, ice, lightning, and wind erupted across the yard as noble heirs showed off proudly.
When Sarena stepped ahead, everyone fell silent.
Her fingers lifted gently, and elegant frost swirled around her — like dancing snowflakes forming a crown of ice. The ground beneath her shimmered with crystalline patterns.
"Beautiful…" a girl whispered.
Kai whispered too, but from the depths of his soul:
"Marry me."
Arin elbowed him again.
When Sarena finished, even the teachers looked impressed.
Then it was Arin's turn.
And silence spread differently this time.
Not admiration…
but curiosity mixed with doubt.
Arin stepped forward.
He felt the strange mist inside him — swirling, whispering, refusing to take a shape.
Lyria nodded. "Begin when ready."
Arin closed his eyes.
Nothing responded at first.
Not light.
Not heat.
Not wind.
Not even a spark.
Only a cold shiver in his chest… like some ancient eye opening.
Whispers.
Layers upon layers of whispers.
Not yet…
Not here…
Not this world…
Arin's fingers trembled as faint grey mist leaked out — thin, colorless, almost invisible.
Students leaned closer.
"What is that?"
"Is that even an affinity?"
"Looks like smoke."
"Is he failing?"
But Arin felt something terrifying behind that mist…
a pressure…
a presence.
And something else:
Sadness.
As if whatever lived inside him mourned its own existence.
The mist swirled once—
then vanished completely.
Instructor Lyria's eyes narrowed for the first time.
Joren scratched his chin.
"Huh. That's new."
Murmurs spread.
"Is it trash?"
"No… looks weird."
"Maybe he's defective."
"Maybe he's cursed."
Arin stepped back quietly, head lowered.
Kai instantly moved to his side, patting his back.
"Don't worry. I'm sure your power is just shy. Maybe it needs encouragement. I can sing to it—"
"No," Arin said.
"Maybe read it poetry—"
"No."
Kai placed an arm around his shoulders.
"You're still my brother. Even if your power looks like sad smoke."
Arin chuckled painfully.
Sarena Approaches
When the session ended, Sarena walked toward them. Her footsteps were quiet, almost hesitant.
Arin expected a cold stare.
Or pity.
But she looked at him carefully, almost… searching.
"That mist," she said softly. "It didn't feel weak."
Arin blinked. "You think so?"
She nodded. "It felt… hidden. Like something waiting."
Kai leaned in with a grin.
"Sister Sarena, are you saying our boy is secretly strong?"
Sarena raised an eyebrow.
"I said the mist felt unusual, not that he is strong."
"Ouch," Kai whispered.
But Arin's heart felt lighter.
Just a little.
Sarena began walking away, but she added one quiet sentence:
"Don't underestimate things that hide in silence."
Arin watched her go, confused, curious… and strangely hopeful.
Kai slapped his back.
"Brother! She talked to you again! That's it — destiny is calling!"
Arin groaned.
"Please don't make it weird."
Kai winked.
"Too late."