The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
But no one moved.
Not today.
Sir Darius stood at the front, his usual stern expression even sharper than before.
"Stay seated," he said.
The room fell silent.
Even Kael, who was usually restless, straightened beside me. "What's going on?" he whispered.
I shook my head. "No idea."
Sir Darius took a slow breath.
"Today," he said, "you will attempt your Awakening."
For a second—
No one reacted.
Then the room exploded.
"Awakening?!"
"Already?!"
"I thought we still had a year!"
Sir Darius raised his hand, and silence returned instantly.
"Under normal circumstances, yes," he said. "But the world doesn't follow 'normal' anymore."
His gaze swept across us.
"Fracture activity has increased. The Academy has decided to advance your Awakening."
My chest tightened.
Awakening.
The moment every student had been waiting for.
The moment that would decide everything.
Sir Darius turned toward the back of the room.
"Bring it in."
The door opened.
Two staff members entered, carrying a crystal sphere about the size of a human head. It glowed faintly, swirling with soft light—like mist trapped inside glass.
A mana catalyst.
A tool used to trigger Awakening.
They placed it carefully at the front.
Sir Darius stepped aside.
"One by one," he said. "Place your hand on the sphere. Focus. Let the mana respond to you."
No one hesitated.
The first student rushed forward.
He placed his hand on the sphere.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
A faint glow spread from the crystal, wrapping around his arm.
"Mana affinity: Enhancement," Sir Darius announced.
Murmurs spread.
More students followed.
"Elemental—Fire."
"Support—Healing."
"Enhancement."
"Elemental—Wind."
Each Awakening brought excitement, relief, or disappointment—but no one failed.
Everyone awakened.
Everyone… except—
"Next. Leo."
My name echoed in the room.
I stood up.
For some reason, my steps felt heavier than usual.
Kael leaned closer as I passed. "Don't mess it up," he whispered with a grin.
"…Yeah."
I stopped in front of the sphere.
Up close, the mana inside it felt… strange.
Like it was watching me.
I hesitated for a fraction of a second—
Then placed my hand on it.
Silence.
I focused.
Just like we were taught.
Feel the mana.
Guide it.
Let it respond.
…
Nothing.
The crystal remained dim.
I frowned.
Again.
I tried again—harder this time.
Still nothing.
A faint murmur rose from behind me.
"Why isn't it reacting?"
"…Is he nervous?"
Sir Darius's voice cut through the whispers.
"Focus, Leo."
"I am," I said, a bit too quickly.
But something was wrong.
I could feel it.
The mana…
It wasn't just unresponsive.
It felt distant.
Like it refused to acknowledge me.
Seconds passed.
Then a full minute.
The crystal remained completely still.
No light.
No reaction.
Nothing.
The murmurs turned into open whispers now.
"…No Awakening?"
"That's impossible…"
"Everyone awakens…"
My hand slowly dropped from the sphere.
The silence that followed was heavier than anything before.
Sir Darius stared at the crystal.
Then at me.
For the first time—
There was uncertainty in his eyes.
"…No response," he said quietly.
The words hit harder than any blow.
No response.
Kael stood up. "That's not right—let him try again!"
Sir Darius didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…Again."
Hope flickered.
I stepped forward once more and placed my hand on the sphere.
Focused.
Waited.
Prayed—
Nothing.
The crystal stayed dark.
Completely lifeless.
Sir Darius exhaled slowly.
"…That's enough."
My chest felt hollow.
Around me, the class was completely silent now.
Not excited.
Not amazed.
Just… staring.
"Return to your seat," Sir Darius said.
I didn't move at first.
Then slowly… I turned and walked back.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Kael looked at me, confusion written all over his face.
"…Leo…"
I didn't answer.
Because I couldn't.
Everyone had awakened.
Everyone… except me.
At the front of the room, Sir Darius looked at the crystal again.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Strange," he muttered under his breath.
Because for a brief moment—
So brief no one else noticed—
The crystal hadn't been unresponsive.
It had trembled.