"Final approval for the Awakening Trials, sir,"
The sprawling command tower of C.E.L.E.N. loomed against the morning sky, its silver surface gleaming like an unsheathed blade. The building stood at the very center of the continent's protected zone, surrounded by fields of shimmering blue Etheron energy arrays that pulsed like a living heartbeat.
Inside its fortified walls, the air was thick with purpose. Behind sealed doors on the executive floor, two men occupied the vast black-stone conference hall. The tall panoramic windows painted them in light, though only one seemed to notice.
High Commander Veylan adjusted the cuffs of his sleek black suit — sharply tailored, spotless. He is an old man, yes — strands of silver ran thick through his hair — but his posture was unbending, and his presence still commanded the room like a force of nature. Scars mapped the back of his calloused hands, memories of a time when he wielded Etheron not as the High Commander, but as a Sovereign-Tier (S-rank) Etherborn warrior — one of the highest ever recorded. And across from him, Administrator Ilven stood with a stiff professionalism, shuffling through the glowing holo-pad clutched in his hands. Veylan didn't move to take it right away. His attention was fixed outward, beyond the thick glass, watching the distant energy fields ripple across the horizon. "How many candidates this year?" he asked, voice low but cutting. "Seven hundred and twelve continent-wide," Ilven answered smoothly. "Seventy-four registered under our Central Division jurisdiction".
Veylan finally turned his gaze, piercing and measured adding; "Higher than projections".
Ilven shifted on his feet. "Yes. And… there have been early awakenings reported. Young ones. Unstable. reports show an abnormal spike in premature Etheron reactions among the younger groups". A long silence stretched between them. "And the red traces?" Veylan asked, almost casually. Ilven swallowed lightly. "Still isolated incidents, sir. Confined to wilderness zones. No public knowledge yet.""
Veylan's fingers tapped once against the glass. A small, steady sound that seemed to echo through the empty chamber. Then his mouth tightened into a thin line; "Open a preliminary investigation. Quietly."
"Of course, Commander."
They stood there a moment longer, the sunlight shifting across the polished floor. Somewhere deeper in the building, faint alarms pulsed once — not urgent, but constant. The world beyond their walls was restless. Finally, Veylan offered a rare, thin smile. "Focus on the Trials first. The rest… can wait its turn."
A vast valley unfolded below thick stormclouds, scarred and reinforced into multiple training fields. Towering crystalline barriers buzzed with shielded Etheron fields, and C.E.L.E.N. personnel in black-and-blue suits moved with mechanical precision, setting final touches. a place designed for one purpose only: to test, to break, and to forge the next generation of Etherborn.
Massive Enchanted steel gates stood closed along the perimeter, separating the training fields, the labyrinth sectors, and the combat arenas. Each section designed for a different brutal necessity. Dozens of C.E.L.E.N. agents fitting armored plates into position, powering up containment fields, calibrated tracking systems, and setting final calibrations while Heavy drone platforms floated overhead, broadcasting surveillance webs across the valley.
Near a supply truck, an agent leaned lazily against the hood, his uniform wrinkled from long hours. He watched with tired eyes as a Pulse-Tier (C-rank) Etherborn holding pen rattled under the weight of something massive inside. "Same old madness every year," he muttered, arms crossed. His partner, a taller woman tightening the straps on her vest, grunted. "This year's batch looks promising… if they survive the first three rounds'. Not far away, a younger technician finished syncing an Etheron beacon and glanced up, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Still," he said under his breath, "let's hope for the best…"
High above them, a new set of banners unfurled, catching the rising wind: the insignia of C.E.L.E.N., a sharp silver spiral circling a flame. The valley was almost ready.
In just a few days, the Awakening Trials would begin — and the world would watch who rose… and who fell.
Later that day, Sunlight streamed through the clouds in lazy shafts, bathing the small backyard in gold and blue. Kairo wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his wrist, his shirt clinging to his skin. In front of him stood three battered wooden dummies, each carved with marks from years of practice. He stood still for a moment, breathing in. A soft hum flickered in the air around his hands — barely visible wisps of Etheron forming — before he pushed forward, sending a focused burst straight into the first dummy. The wood creaked and shuddered from the impact. Selena leaned against the fence nearby, twirling a fire ball of Etheron lazily between her fingers. Her control was effortless, turning the energy elements into beautiful fire shapes — a bird, a blade, a shifting ripple. "You're getting slower," she said, raising an eyebrow. Kairo exhaled through his nose, stepping back into stance. "I'm saving my strength". She grinned, then flicked her fingers — the fire ball of Etheron zipped forward, smacking him lightly against the shoulder with a playful pop. Kairo stumbled back, laughing. Meanwhile Riven sat cross-legged on the grass, scribbling strange symbols into the dirt with a stick. He glanced up briefly. "You'll both be dust by Round Two," he said cheerfully. "You coming to watch me crash and burn at the trials too?" Kairo called out. "Wouldn't miss it for the world," Riven answered without looking up. Then selena added with a light smile "we will all be there little K, rooting for you". The banter was easy, but beneath it — unspoken — was a tension kairo dared admit aloud. Only a few days left. Then everything would change for him.
They eventually collapsed under the old oak tree near the house, breathing hard. Kairo laid back against the grass, watching the clouds shift slowly overhead. The blue haze of the world — the Etheron that filled every breath, every shadow — shimmered subtly above the world, invisible to those who didn't know how to look. Selena nudged him with her foot. "You ever think about what it'll be like?" He blinked up at her. "The Trials?", "No. After," she said. "If -well, when you make it". He didn't answer right away.
Inside the house, the smell of cooking drifted through the open windows — something warm, spicy. The comforting sounds of home as always. They wandered inside eventually, sweaty and laughing, kicking their shoes off at the door.
The kitchen TV buzzed quietly in the corner:
"…minor Etheron disturbances detected along the Southern Reaches. No public threat, authorities assure… Meanwhile, the annual Awakening Trials prepare for record participation this week…"
Riven threw Kairo a towel and smirked. "You're on the news, future hero." Kairo grinned, shaking his head. As he splashed cold water over his face at the kitchen sink, something caught his eye. His reflection — just for a heartbeat — shimmered. A faint ripple of blue ran across his pupils, before vanishing as quickly as it came. He froze. Not now, he thought. Not yet.
Behind him, Riven was already raiding the fridge. "Lunch is mine first! Training counts as an official battle!" He declared. Selena rolled her eyes. "You couldn't win a battle against a salad". They shoved and laughed as the afternoon drifted in like a slow, inevitable tide.
For a little while longer, everything still felt… normal.
The kitchen smelled like paprika and something fried, the kind of comfort food that clung to your clothes and softened your bones. Plates clinked. Riven hummed something off-key between bites. Kairo sat at the corner of the table, still toweling off the sweat from earlier, his hair damp and curling slightly at the ends. Selena was poking half-heartedly at her food while bouncing a flicker of fire across her knuckles. "Do you think they'll air the Trials live?" Riven asked, mouth full. "Or is that still considered a national hazard?", "They'll televise the finals for sure," Selena said, not looking up. "They always do". The background noise of the TV shifted — the tone of the reporter growing more animated.
"…new footage this morning shows some of the continent's standout candidates already deep in private training. While registration numbers break historical records, certain names have already caught the attention of C.E.L.E.N. analysts—"
The screen flickered with rapid cuts of surveillance drone footage. A girl in violet robes weaving energy threads like embroidery. A brawler from the southern desert whose punches left scorch trails in the sand. Then, The screen froze for a second longer on one image. A boy — around same age as Kairo, alone in a wide, dead clearing. Back hunched, fists wrapped in worn black cloth. No shirt. No banners. Just a pair of faded boots planted in cracked earth. He exhaled, and the air around him warped like heat rising off steel. He moved like a ghost — fast, exact — and strong, really strong. driving his fist into the trunk of a petrified tree. The impact sent a shockwave rippling out in a slow-motion wave, warping the dust and leaves before collapsing the trunk inward with a crunch. No drama. No flourish. Just destruction. The screen flickered again:
"Candidate #042 – Codename: Tarek". Nobody said anything for a beat. Then Riven muttered, "Okay, well… bro looks like he eats people". Selena narrowed her eyes at the screen. "Why's it always the broody ones with trauma powers?", Kairo said nothing. He was still staring. Not with fear. Not even with worry— No. But with something else entirely. A grin tugged at the edge of his mouth. Quiet. Focused. He leaned back in his chair and let out a soft breath, eyes still fixed on the screen "That one," he murmured. Selena raised an eyebrow. "Huh?", Kairo shook his head slowly, the grin lingering. "Nothing. Just… can't wait". Whatever flickered in his voice wasn't just confidence. It was hunger. Unbelievable excitement almost as if it was stares of blood lust. As if he know the destiny of their future rivalry. That's when they all realized how ready he is. He was ready.
And just like that, the moment passed — the image fading into other news, the screen cutting back to more politics, more weather, more noise.
Few moments later. The clatter of dishes and the low hum of the news still lingered in the kitchen as Kairo stretched his arms overhead, feeling the restless energy buzzing just beneath his skin. Across the table, Selena smirked at him over her half-finished plate. "You look like you're about to explode, tough guy," she said, nudging her fork at him. "You that eager to get wrecked in the Trials?", Riven leaned back in his chair, tossing a grape into his mouth. "Go punch a tree or something," he said through a grin. "Get it outta your system". Kairo rolled his eyes, grabbing his jacket from the back of the chair. "Fine. I'll go make the trees cry". He pushed the door open with his shoulder and stepped outside, the afternoon sun already dipping low, casting long golden shadows across the backyard. The forest edge wasn't far — a line of thick, gnarled trees humming faintly with the invisible charge of Etheron. A familiar training ground. A place where he could burn off the jittering energy clawing at him without worrying about destroying the backyard. He jogged lightly across the grass, hopping over the worn fence, and disappeared into the woods. The trees swallowed him quickly. Soft blue light filtered through the leaves, casting the ground in a shifting, dreamlike glow. Kairo slowed his pace, drawing a slow breath as he rolled his shoulders loose. He focused, feeling the Etheron pool in his palms — a soft, crackling warmth — before snapping his hands forward in a practiced burst. A nearby tree trunk shook under the impact, leaves fluttering down like startled birds. Kairo grinned, lining up for another shot. But before he could release it —
A sudden movement flashed at the edge of his vision. He turned — just in time to see a figure slip from the trees, landing lightly in the clearing. The burst of Etheron he'd fired shot wide — harmless — but it still brushed close enough that the figure had to twist sharply aside, dodging with effortless precision. Kairo froze, hands half-raised. It was A girl — about his age — straightened up, brushing a smear of dirt from her sleeve. She wore simple training gear — dark, fitted — her short black hair tucked messily behind one ear.
Her eyes, a clear and piercing gray, fixed calmly on him. For a heartbeat, neither of them spoke. "I… wasn't aiming for you," Kairo said quickly, stepping back. The girl raised an eyebrow, dusting a leaf from her shoulder.
"Lucky for you," she said, voice cool but not unfriendly. Kairo scratched the back of his neck, feeling suddenly very aware of the stupid way he was standing. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. "You usually fire at random out here?" she asked, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Only when I'm showing off," he said, finding a grin to hide the heat rising to his cheeks. She looked him up and down once, a quiet measuring glance — not mocking, just… curious. For a moment, the air between them shimmered faintly — a thin, invisible pulse.
Kairo felt his Etheron twitch in response, like a current tugging against a tether. He saw her posture stiffen slightly too, the way her fingers flexed once before settling again. Then — it was gone. The charge faded, like it had never been. The girl tipped her head in a half-nod.
"Maybe try not to kill anyone before the big day," she said, already turning away. "Big day?" Kairo echoed, stepping forward instinctively. She paused, glancing back over her shoulder. A sliver of a smile curved her lips — not mocking this time, but almost… challenging. "You'll see". And just like that, she vanished between the trees, moving with the easy, silent grace of someone who had lived a long time among the wilds. Kairo stood there long after she was gone, heart thudding harder than it should've been from a simple conversation. He stared at the empty clearing, Etheron still buzzing faintly around his fingertips. "Who the hell was that?" he muttered under his breath. Whatever the Trials were going to throw at him…It looked like fate had already started playing its hand.
Later that evening, Kairo took the long way home. The hill behind their house curved along a quiet ridge where the grass grew wild and tall. He liked walking it at night — especially when his thoughts were too loud to sit still with. The wind was cool now, brushing through his hair, carrying the smell of dusk and distant woodsmoke. But his mind wasn't on the air or the stars. It was on her. That girl — Mira. The way they'd bumped into each other. The awkwardness. The spark. It hadn't been much. Just a moment. But it stuck in his head like it meant something more than it should've. She'd laughed at his dumb comment, but not in a mocking way. There'd been warmth in it. Something honest. He kicked a stone down the path, hands in his pockets, replaying it all again. Was she entering the Trials too? He didn't even know anything about her she only told him her name and kept everything mysterious, yet, a weird part of him hoped he'd see her again — He shook his head and smiled to himself.
By the time the house came back into view, the sky had dimmed to a soft navy blue. The windows glowed gold, and shadows flickered behind the curtains. Home. Still here. Still calm. Almost. Because something — just off to the side, near the fence line — made him stop. A tall figure stood at the far end of the yard, coat fluttering lightly in the wind, one gloved hand resting on a hip. Not from around here. And when Kairo stepped closer, he caught the flash of a C.E.L.E.N. badge beneath the man's collar. No expression. No greeting. Just waiting. And suddenly, the night didn't feel so quiet anymore. The man didn't speak right away. He stood still, backlit by the house's faint glow, the silver trim of his coat catching the light as Kairo approached. Close enough now to see the insignia stitched across his collar — the sharp spiral flame of C.E.L.E.N., unmistakable. "Evening," the agent said, finally. His voice was smooth, crisp, practiced. Too polite. "Kairo Virel, correct?" Kairo stiffened. "Yeah. That's me". The man glanced down at a thin slate in his hand, tapped a few things, then looked up again. "Agent Ren, Central Division. I'm conducting routine outreach with all registered local candidates. Standard pre-trial check-ins". "Didn't know C.E.L.E.N. did house calls," Kairo replied, trying to sound casual. It came out a little sharper than intended. Ren smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "We don't. Not usually". He stepped forward — not threatening, but with purpose. His gaze flicked briefly toward the house, then settled back on Kairo. "We just want to make sure you're stable. No irregularities. No… surprises". Something in the way he said it made Kairo's skin prickle. "I'm fine," he said. "I'm sure you are," Ren said, tone even. "Still — protocol." He raised a small device from his coat pocket. "If you don't mind, just a quick resonance scan". Kairo hesitated. But nodded. The agent pressed the device lightly against Kairo's wrist. A soft pulse of blue light blinked once, then again — and for a split second, the light flared red before settling back into blue. Ren's eyes narrowed. Barely. But he noticed. "Wtf is that?" Kairo asked, too quickly. Ren smiled again, this time thinner. "Chill kiddo, just noise. These scanners aren't always precise". He put the device away. "Well," he continued, stepping back, "you're clear. For now. Just remember, Virel — trials aren't just a measure of strength. They reveal things. Pressure has a way of showing us what's buried". "I'll keep that in mind," Kairo said, jaw tight. Ren turned to leave. But halfway down the path, he paused, looking back over his shoulder. "One more thing," he added. "Has anything… unusual happened recently? Visions? Surges? Uncontrolled manifestations?" Kairo thought of the shimmer in his eyes. The moment at the sink. The cold that crept into his fingertips sometimes when he wasn't even calling on Etheron. "No," he lied. Ren held his stare for a beat longer. Then nodded once. "See you at the Trials". And then he was gone — his coat vanishing into the night, boots silent against the grass. Kairo stood there, alone, the silence pressing in again. But this time, it didn't feel peaceful. He looked down at his hand. The faintest flicker of energy — black and blue — curled between his fingers… and vanished.
He stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind him. Selena looked up from the couch, brows drawing together. "Who was that?" Kairo hesitated, then shrugged off the tension in his shoulders. "Just a C.E.L.E.N. agent. Routine protocols, I guess". She studied him for a second longer, but didn't press. He crossed the room, eyes lingering on the quiet shimmer of the television, the low hum of the world still turning — for now. But something in him knew: the countdown had begun.