You've got to be kidding me.
When death comes knocking on your door, I guess there's really nothing you can do.
"Young master you need to wake up"
Huh?
"Young master it's time, the patriarch is also coming today, and specifically requested your attendance"
??? Who is she talking too?
I heard a sigh, " you know I hate to use force with you, but you'd left me no choice"
I suddenly felt jolts of electricity.
AHHHHHH
I opened my eyes to some lady (describe her as an above average looking white women, 26 years old. possibly mixed with Asian. Wearing a nicely crafted maids gown. She was also, oddly enoughly wearing a head scarf wrapped in a bun in the back, just her edges were peaking through, similar to how black girls would wear them). Woah, I thought, what an interesting looking person.
I heard a sigh again, "young master, now is not the time, you need to get ready quickly. I'm not sure why the pataricah is coming to your awakening today, but it's caused quite a stir amongst your family. All of your siblings will now be in attendance"
There was nothing but confusion on my face, I had no idea who this women is, why she's calling me young master, who the patriarch is, who my siblings are. I'm completely lost.
"Uh" I muttered. "Who are you?".
Silence. The women's face changed quickly. It was like air itself went mute.
"Young master now is not the time for games. We need to get you ready quickly"
" I don't know what you're talking about". I asked again "who are you? Where am I?"
Silence again. "Shit" she muttered. Her face dropped completely, "they're gonna kill me". The next thing I knew her hand touched my forehead, but it seemed like her fingers went into my thoughts? "Why is his mind such a mess, there's even a blockage I can't get through"she moved her hand and said "do you really not remember anything?"
"Nope"
"Oh they're definitely going to kill me, they won't even make it painless" the maid seemed to tear up, but composed her face. "Listen to me" she said " your name is Cassian Blake. Your family is amongst the top powerhouses in the world, I've been under orders to watch you for the last week, after your previous guardian was killed during your last assinatjon attempt" she continued, "you are 16 and about to undergo your 7th awakening attempt. Hopefully your memories come back soon, there's far too much in this world, about your life up until this point in particular to explain everything in 20mins." She stopped and stared at me once more then continued " this is your last chance to awaken, your family has used many resources on your to awaken, at this point they'd even be fine with a C+ talent. I don't even know why I'm saying this, she mumbled "we just need to get your ready to see your family dont say much and just do what's asked. Try not to engage in banter with your siblings, or even worse the patricarch, your father. They're gonna asked you to touch the stone, if it shines you are fine, if it doesn't, just let me handle it.
You've got to be kidding me.
When death comes knocking on your door, I guess there's really nothing you can do.
"Young master, you need to wake up."
…Huh?
"Young master, it's time. The patriarch is coming today, and he specifically requested your attendance."
Who is she talking to?
A quiet sigh followed. "You know I hate to use force with you, but you've left me no choice."
A sharp jolt of electricity tore through my body—controlled, precise, nothing like a random shock. It felt intentional. Measured.
"AHHHH—!"
My eyes snapped open.
Standing over me was a woman I didn't recognize—mid-twenties, maybe twenty-six. She was striking in a subtle, refined way. Her features suggested she might be mixed—possibly Asian—but it was hard to place exactly. She wore a tailored maid's gown, the fabric too fine, too deliberate to be ordinary. Even the stitching looked… expensive.
On her head was a scarf wrapped neatly into a bun at the back, with her edges carefully laid—an oddly familiar style that contrasted with everything else about her appearance.
Woah.
What an interesting-looking person.
"Young master," she said again, a hint of urgency creeping into her voice. "Now is not the time. You need to get ready quickly. I'm not sure why the patriarch is attending your awakening personally, but it's caused quite a stir within the estate."
Estate?
"All of your siblings will be present," she added.
I stared at her.
None of this made sense.
I didn't know who she was, why she kept calling me "young master," or why any of this sounded like I'd just woken up in someone else's life.
"Uh…" I muttered. "Who are you?"
Silence.
Her expression shifted instantly. Not confusion—alarm.
"Young master, now is not the time for games. We need to get you ready before the summons becomes a command."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, sitting up. "Who are you? Where am I?"
Silence again.
"Shit," she whispered. "They're going to kill me."
Before I could react, her hand pressed against my forehead.
Except it didn't feel like a hand.
It felt like something slipping past the surface—like fingers reaching into thoughts I couldn't even see myself.
"What is this…?" she murmured. "Why is his mind in fragments? There are gaps—no, not gaps… seals?"
Seals?
"There's even a blockage I can't get through…" Her voice dropped. "Who would place something like this on a child?"
She pulled back slowly, her composure cracking for the first time.
"Do you… really not remember anything?"
"Nope."
She exhaled shakily. "Oh, they're definitely going to kill me. And it won't be painless."
For a brief moment, her eyes watered—but just as quickly, she forced herself back into control.
"Listen carefully," she said, her tone sharpening into something trained, almost rehearsed. "Your name is Cassian Blake. You belong to the Blake family—one of the ruling powerhouses."
Ruling?
"I've been assigned to you for the past week," she continued, "after your previous guardian was killed during your last assassination attempt."
My chest tightened.
She said it so casually.
Like that was normal.
"You are sixteen years old," she went on, "and today marks your seventh awakening attempt."
Seventh.
Something about that number felt… wrong. Excessive.
"Most awaken by their third," she added quietly, almost to herself. "Fourth at the latest, if they're late bloomers."
She paused, watching me closely.
"This is your final attempt. The family has already invested more resources into you than most heirs would ever receive. Rare catalysts. External cores. Even assistance from outside factions."
Factions?
"At this point…" she hesitated, "they would accept even a C+ talent."
The way she said it made it clear—that wasn't good.
"I shouldn't be telling you this," she muttered. "But if you walk in there blind, you won't survive the room."
That got my attention.
"We don't have much time," she continued. "When we go out there, you will be surrounded by your siblings. Some of them have already awakened. Some… exceptionally so."
There was a weight behind that word.
"Do not engage with them. Not verbally, not emotionally. You are not in a position to challenge anyone right now."
She stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"And whatever you do, do not draw the patriarch's attention unnecessarily."
My father.
"They call him that for a reason," she added. "He doesn't just lead the family. He is the reason it exists in its current form."
That didn't sound comforting.
"They will ask you to approach the awakening stone," she continued. "It's an ancient artifact—no one truly knows its origin. It responds to potential… or rejects it."
Rejects it?
"If it shines," she said, "you'll be acknowledged."
She paused.
"If it doesn't…" her gaze flickered for just a second, "then your position in this family becomes… negotiable."
Negotiable?
She straightened, regaining that polished, servant-like composure.
"Just follow instructions. Don't think too much. Don't speak unless required."
She turned toward the door, then stopped.
"And Cassian…"
I looked up.
"For your sake," she said quietly, "I hope whatever is blocking your memories didn't take your instincts with it."
A distant bell rang somewhere beyond the walls—deep, heavy, echoing through what suddenly felt like a much larger place than just a room.
She glanced toward the sound.
"They've started gathering."
Then she looked back at me.
"Time's up."