The next page of the book was blank.
Kyle closed it gently, carrying the book and stepped out of the attic, the wooden floor creaking under his feet. His destination? The Forest of Orcan.
As he descended the stairs, he caught sight of his parents lounging on the living room sofa, the soft glow of the television lighting their faces.
They looked relaxed—but Kyle could tell. They were waiting for him.
He smiled and approached them.
"Mom, Dad," he said quietly, "I found a clue. I'm leaving soon."
Kalum looked at his son. In Kyle's eyes, he saw a spark—of hope, of purpose. It warmed his heart to see that spark again.
"Where are you headed?" Kalum asked.
"The Forest of Orcan," Kyle answered.
Aeiana gasped softly at the name. "Kyle, are you sure? That place… it could be dangerous."
She stood up and took his hand, her touch full of unspoken worry. She knew Kyle was capable—strong, even without powers—but still, a mother's fear runs deep.
Kyle had learned a lot from Kalum over the years—swordsmanship, fighting techniques. He might not have the magic others did, but he could hold his own, even against mid-tier Medius or Louws-level opponents.
He gently squeezed his mother's hand. "I'll be fine, Mom. I can protect myself. This might be the only chance I get."
He looked into her eyes, and she could see it: his determination, his resolve, and the glimmer of hope he clung to.
Kalum stood and placed a firm hand on Kyle's shoulder. "When are you planning to leave? Do you want to stay a little longer?"
Kyle shook his head, offering a small smile. "I think I'll go after lunch. I should reach the town nearest to the forest within 3 hour. "
He paused. "If I delay, the doubts will just pile up."
Kalum nodded. "Alright. Go pack. We'll get lunch ready and eat together before you leave."
Kyle nodded back and headed to his room.
His sanctuary.
The walls were painted in smooth gradients of grey and white, minimalistic but calming. A simple king-sized bed, a dark-white shelf beside it, and a tidy study table made up most of the furnishings. To the right stood a large oak wardrobe, though not packed with many clothes.
He picked up the duffel bag lying near his bed—still packed from his recent return. He hadn't unpacked. There was nothing more to add.
Kyle threw himself onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling.
Is there really a clue about Null in the Forest of Orcan?
Can I awaken?
What about the diary? The revenge? Milia… what was her connection to my ancestor, Kaius?
Thoughts swirled like a storm. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Relax. No need to overthink. One step at a time.
——-
Livia Town buzzed with life. People filled the streets, and towering buildings loomed on every side. Shops were packed, and the air was alive with energy.
This was nothing like Arcadia.
In Arcadia, time felt slower—buildings steeped in history, green hills rolling on forever. A place that felt almost ancient.
But here? Here, everything was fast. Modern. Efficient. Cars, hoverboards, high-rises, and perfect roads.
Despite it being his first visit, Kyle couldn't shake a feeling of déjà vu. It reminded him of Unixe High—the academy at the top of the rankings, known for its advanced facilities. Modern buildings. Training fields. Teleportation gates.
He had used three teleportation gates to reach Livia. The trip took just 3 hour—far better than the 10-hour journey by hoverboard or car. Expensive, but worth it.
He walked through the busy streets until he stopped in front of a grand hotel. Stepping inside, he was greeted by a friendly receptionist.
"Good evening. May I help you?"
"I need a room for 2 night," Kyle replied. "Just a standard one."
The receptionist—Luca, according to the name tag—nodded and smiled. "Of course. I'll need your ID card, please."
Kyle handed it over and waited a moment before Luca returned with a keycard.
"Room 3304. Enjoy your stay."
"Thanks," Kyle said, accepting the card and heading toward the elevator.
He planned to drop off his bag, then head back out to scout the route to the Forest of Orcan. He also needed to buy some potions and a few simple spell scrolls—basic enchantments for defense.
Tonight, the real journey would begin.
——
Unixe High Academy
Classes had ended for the day. The introductory session focused mostly on the academy's history and what students could expect to learn about manipulating their powers in the coming term.
Every student was grouped according to their power level:
— Louws Level – Assigned to Class B. These students had awakened to production-type classes: crafting, blacksmithing, cooking, and similar disciplines.
— Medius Level – Assigned to Class A. These students possessed support-type abilities with lower direct impact: healing, mining, seeking, insight, and so on.
— Higius Level – Assigned to Class S. This elite class consisted of students who awakened to combat roles: knight, mage, assassin, summoner, and more. They were considered the academy's frontliners.
Mark was one of the students in Class S.
He glanced around at his classmates, then let his thoughts drift. I wonder what Kyle's doing right now…
If Kyle had awakened, he would've been in this class too. His potential was far above anyone else's.
Mark still remembered the academy's monthly competitions before they awakened. Every time he was matched against Kyle, a familiar sense of despair crept in.
Why?
Because Kyle never lost. He was a natural-born fighter.
Mark felt a twinge of loneliness. He had awakened to the summoner class—he could currently summon three monsters at once. It was classified as a Higius-level power, and the number of summons could grow as his mana increased.
"Semester break begins tomorrow," Professor Miki announced, standing at the front of the class.
"You'll have three months to decide how you want to grow. Each of you is awakened now. Use this time wisely—study your power, understand it. Awakenings often align with your lineage. Learn from your families, and return stronger. I'll see you in three months."
With that, the class was dismissed.
Professor Miki would be continuing with Class S, while Class A and B were assigned to other professors.
As he left the room, the buzz of conversation returned.
"Hey, Mark!"
A heavy smack landed on Mark's shoulder. He turned sharply, eyes narrowed to a deadly glare.
"Whoa, whoa—relax," Bay laughed, holding up his hands. "You heading home or what?"
Mark rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Gonna spend the break leveling up—so next time, I can beat Kyle."
Bay raised a brow. "Kyle? Isn't he still unawakened? Is he even coming back next semester?"
"He will," Mark said, eyes resolute. "I believe he'll awaken before then."
Bay scoffed lightly. "You're way too confident. No one awakens after fifteen. If it doesn't happen by then, it's over."
He wasn't wrong. In their world, the age of fifteen marked the awakening threshold. There were no known exceptions—until now.
Kyle was the only one who hadn't awakened at fifteen. The only anomaly.
But Mark wasn't giving up.
"He still has three months before he turns sixteen," Mark said firmly. "That's enough time. He'll do it."
There was something unshakable in his voice—loyalty, maybe, or just faith. But Mark believed.
And when Kyle returned, they'd be unstoppable together.