Venus stared at the floating status screen for a long moment. Her fingers trembled, reaching out toward the glowing letters as if they might vanish any second.
But they didn't.
They stayed right there. Clear, glowing, and completely real.
She wasn't dreaming.
Her heartbeat thundered in her chest. She could now feel the low pulse of energy coursing through her veins. Warmth radiated from her core, subtle but undeniable.
"I… I have really awakened."
Her legs moved before her mind could catch up. She threw off the blanket, staggered to her feet, and burst out of her room barefoot, forgetting everything else. Her sore muscles complained, but she didn't care. The only thing that mattered now was telling them.
She rushed down the stairs two steps at a time, nearly tripping in her excitement.
"Mom! Dad!"
Evangeline was in the kitchen, stirring a pot of stew. Her eyes lifted in surprise. "Venus? What's wrong?"
