Chapter Three: The First Awakening
Soft light filtered through stained glass windows, painting the white walls in gentle hues of gold and blue. The air smelled faintly of incense and something cleaner—like freshly fallen rain.
Orion stirred.
His body ached like he'd been dragged through a battlefield—and, in truth, he had. His breath came shallow at first, then steadied. Slowly, his eyes cracked open.
At first, everything was a blur.
Light. Shapes. A high ceiling that spun slightly above him.
Then—
DING.
A soft, melodic chime rang in his ears.
[System Booting… Successful Merge with Host Completed.]
Would you like to view your current stats?
Orion blinked.
His lips parted. "...Huh?"
The words glowed in front of him in midair—translucent, gold-tinged, hovering just above his vision like a dream made solid.
He tried to sit up, only for a sharp pain to lance through his side. He hissed and gritted his teeth, hand clutching his bandaged ribs. His breath trembled.
But… something was off.
The pain was real. But so was something else.
His vision—it was no longer blurry. It was crystal clear.
The way the golden sunlight refracted off the wall, the tiny crack in the ceiling arch above, the dust floating in the air—all of it appeared in perfect detail. Hyper-detailed.
And his body… despite the wound, he felt stronger. More grounded. More alive.
System Message: Synchronization complete. Would you like to view your current status?
Still breathless, still utterly confused, Orion whispered, "...Sure?"
[Displaying Status Panel…]
Name: Orion Caelvar
Affiliation: Holy Faction
Rank: C-Rank Initiate
Element: Holy Lightning
Mana Core: Activated
Mana Affinity: High Compatibility
Sanctified System Sync: 43%
Stats:
Strength: C
Agility: C
Endurance: B
Mana Control: C+
Perception: B+
Skill Tree:
Active Skills: None available.
Passive Abilities:
Eyes of the Radiant Star (Locked Passive)
Note: User can create or awaken one Signature Skill. Creation of skills can also be made through Eyes of the Radiant Star
His eyes scanned the panel. His heartbeat slowed—but his mind raced.
"Stats… like a game?" he muttered. "Holy Lightning? C-Rank? What the hell is this..."
His gaze fell on the final line—Eyes of the Radiant Star—and something tugged at the back of his thoughts.
He tapped the icon. The system responded.
Eyes of the Radiant Star (Passive)
A rare ocular gift blessed by divine essence. These eyes drastically enhance perception, allowing the user to analyze magic flows, movements, and intentions.
Effect:
Enhanced combat awareness and reaction speed.
Vision pierces illusions and darkness.
Opponents with lower mana or magic resistance may experience paralysis or hesitation under direct gaze. Allow the user to adapt and mimic combat techniques witnessed in battle
Future evolutions possible.
"So this… this is why I can see so clearly now…" he whispered.
It was amazing. Terrifying. Overwhelming.
Then the memory hit him.
The orphanage.
The fire. The screams. The way he'd collapsed beside his brothers and sisters, thinking it would all end there.
His breath caught.
Tears welled in his eyes before he could stop them.
His fists clenched the blanket beneath him. "...They're gone," he whispered, voice cracking. "All of them…"
A single tear slid down his cheek.
He took in his surroundings, his breath growing shaky again. The soft sheets. The healing herbs at the side of the bed. The warm glow of some holy lanterns above. Where am I…? he thought.
"How… did I get here?"
Just then, the heavy wooden door creaked open.
Boots echoed softly on the marble floor.
"Hey, hey," a calm, familiar voice said, breaking the silence. "Looks like you're awake."
Orion turned his head sharply, eyes narrowing despite the tears.
The man stepped in—a white coat with blue embroidery, hair like winter skies, and those blue eyes.
"You again…" Orion said, voice sharper now, strained with memory and confusion. He sat up straighter despite the pain. "Who are you?"
The man stopped beside the bed and offered a small, patient smile.
"Name's Caelum," he said. "Holy Knight. Division of the Northern Sanctum. I found you after the attack. Brought you here to recover."
Orion stared at him, unreadable. "Why?"
Caelum's smile faded slightly. "Because I couldn't just leave you to die."
Caelum tilted his head slightly, a curious glint forming in his eye.
"And why do I feel more power coming off you…?" he said, stepping closer. "Like you've suddenly grown stronger."
Then, as he locked eyes with Orion—just for a moment—his entire body tensed.
He froze.
It was just for half a second, but it was undeniable. A pressure. A strange weight pressing into his mind. Like a divine command whispered through a stare.
Caelum blinked, heart skipping. "What… was that?"
He stepped back instinctively, breaking the eye contact. His hand was already cover in energy but he didn't launch an attack. Instead, he studied the boy more carefully.
Orion looked down quickly, breaking the gaze himself. His hand clenched the sheets.
Did… did I just do that?
It must have been his eyes—The Eyes of the Radiant Star. Even though he hadn't tried to use them, just meeting someone's gaze had triggered something.
Caelum let out a slow breath, then gave a soft chuckle, still eyeing him cautiously. "I don't know what you did," he said, "but that… was shocking."
He took a few more steps forward, calmer now.
"What's your name, kid?"
Orion looked up, his golden eyes steady.
"…Orion."
"Orion, huh?" Caelum repeated, nodding thoughtfully. "Well, Orion… I can tell you're not ordinary. And you've already awakened your element, and—whatever that eye thing was—that's rare."
He crossed his arms, expression softening.
"Why don't you join the Holy Faction officially?" Caelum asked. "If you do, I promise— you would figure out why your orphanage was attacked. Why the Abyss came for you. You'll get stronger. Learn more about this world. And maybe…"
He leaned in slightly.
"…you'll finally get the chance to repay the Abyss for what they did."
Orion's fist tightened in his lap. The sheets wrinkled beneath his grip.
His expression didn't change much—but his entire body radiated quiet resolve.
"You don't have to ask me twice," Orion said. "I was going to join anyway."
His voice was calm. Gentle, even. But beneath it—rage. A storm just beneath still water.
"I'll repay them tenfold… for what they did to the orphanage."
Caelum smiled, this time genuinely.
"That's what I wanted to hear," he said, clapping his hands once. "Alright then."
He reached into a leather pouch on his side and pulled out neatly folded clothes—a white undershirt with light golden trim, a sleeveless navy vest with a silver crest over the heart, matching trousers, and a pair of lightweight boots. All standard Holy Faction trainee gear.
"Here," Caelum said, handing them over. "Put these on and follow me when you're ready. I'll show you around the sanctuary. While we walk, I'll explain everything you need to know—how the Faction works, the other divisions, the rankings, the truth about the war…"
He turned to leave, pausing by the door.
"There's a lot you don't know yet, Orion," he said over his shoulder, "but if you're serious about fighting the Abyss, then this is where your path begins."
Orion stared at the clothes in his lap.
A strange feeling bubbled up in his chest. Not grief this time—but determination. Like something deep in his soul had ignited.
He wiped the last tear from his cheek.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered.
And for the first time since the fire, since the attack, since the world he knew had burned down around him…
He stood.