Pain.
That was the first thing Evan felt when consciousness returned to him.
It was not sharp pain, nor the kind that made one scream. It was a dull, lingering soreness that seeped into his bones, reminding him that whatever had happened during his awakening was far from gentle.
He slowly opened his eyes.
For a brief moment, his mind failed to process what he was seeing.
The ceiling was… gone.
Not cracked. Not damaged.
Gone.
Above him stretched an endless night sky, deep and vast, scattered with countless shimmering stars. Cool air brushed against his face, carrying the faint scent of scorched stone and broken wood. The reinforced walls of the awakening chamber still stood, but the roof had been completely torn apart, as if an invisible hand had peeled it away.
Evan blinked.
"So it wasn't a dream," he murmured.
As he tried to sit up, a strange sensation washed over him. For an instant, it felt as though blue aether was swirling around his body—gentle yet powerful, like a slow-moving tide responding to his presence. The feeling was vivid, almost intoxicating, and Evan's heart skipped a beat.
But the sensation vanished just as quickly.
The air returned to normal.
The stars above remained silent.
Evan frowned slightly, wondering if it had been his imagination—or something else entirely.
Before he could dwell on it further, his vision blurred, and a translucent interface suddenly unfolded before his eyes.
It hovered in midair, unaffected by the wind or gravity, glowing faintly with a soft astral hue.
Evan froze.
"…A system?"
The panel pulsed gently, as if responding to his awareness.
[Star System Interface – Activated]
[Host: Evan Windback]
[Status: Awakened]
[Affinity: Wind][Affinity Level: High]
[Affinity: Stars][Affinity Level: ???]
Evan stared at the words, his breathing gradually quickening.
This was not imagination.
This was not illusion.
It was real.
A system—clear, structured, and unmistakably not of this world.
His heart pounded as countless thoughts surged through his mind. He had read stories in his previous life, countless web novels and fantasy tales where protagonists gained mysterious systems that guided them to power. He had enjoyed them, envied them even—but never had he imagined that such a thing would become his reality.
"So this is…" Evan whispered. "The cheat."
The system interface was clean and minimalistic, lacking unnecessary decoration. It felt… efficient. Purpose-driven. As if it existed solely to assist him.
His eyes lingered on the second affinity.
Stars.
And beneath it—
???
Unknown.
Unmeasured.
Unclassified.
Evan's gaze sharpened.
The wind affinity being listed as high did not surprise him. He had felt its resonance clearly during awakening. High-grade wind affinity was respectable—enough to place him among talented awakeners and justify his A-level treatment at Broken Sword Academy.
But the star affinity…
That was something else entirely.
Something dangerous.
Something that could change everything.
Evan instinctively knew that revealing this affinity—especially with an unknown level—would draw unwanted attention. Too much attention. In a world governed by power, rarity often invited greed, fear, and experimentation.
I can't let anyone know, Evan decided instantly.
If the wrong people discovered that he possessed a dual affinity, and one of them related to the stars—something even the system could not yet evaluate—he would not be treated as a genius.
He would be treated as a specimen.
Before he could explore the interface further, faint sounds drifted into his ears.
Voices.
Footsteps.
A commotion.
Evan's eyes narrowed.
They must have noticed the disturbance.
He dismissed the panel with a thought. To his surprise, the interface faded smoothly, as if responding directly to his intent.
"Good," he muttered. "At least it listens."
Bracing himself, Evan slowly stood up. His legs felt heavy, his body sore, but there was a strange underlying vitality coursing through him—a quiet strength that had not been there before.
He took one last look at the stars above, committing the sight to memory, before stepping toward the shattered doorway.
Outside the chamber, chaos had already unfolded.
Victor Jade stood in the courtyard, his expression grave as he stared up at the destroyed roof. His sharp eyes reflected years of experience, calculation, and caution. Beside him, Austin paced back and forth, his face pale and filled with barely restrained anxiety.
"Dad, are you sure he's okay?" Austin muttered for what felt like the tenth time. "That sound—something definitely went wrong, right?"
Victor did not answer immediately.
Just moments ago, the entire estate had shaken. A deep, thunderous sound had echoed through the night, followed by a pressure so intense that even Victor had instinctively activated his aether to defend himself. Then came the tearing sound—the unmistakable destruction of reinforced stone.
And when the dust settled…
The roof was gone.
Victor narrowed his eyes as he looked up at the sky. The stars tonight shimmered far more brilliantly than usual, as if reacting to something unseen. Though his expression remained composed, unease churned within him.
That wasn't normal, he thought.
He had overseen countless awakenings in his life. Even top-grade affinities caused surges of aether—but this?
This felt… different.
Whatever Evan had awakened to, Victor was certain of one thing.
It was high rank.
Perhaps even higher than Austin's fire affinity.
Before Victor could voice his thoughts, footsteps echoed from within the ruined chamber.
Both father and son turned sharply.
Evan emerged.
At first glance, he looked battered. His clothes were torn, dust-stained, and faint traces of dried blood marked his skin. Yet there was something else—something subtle but unmistakable.
His posture was straighter.
His gaze clearer.
There was a calmness about him that did not belong to someone who had just awakened moments ago.
"…Evan!" Austin exclaimed, rushing forward. "Are you okay?!"
Evan smiled faintly.
"I've been better," he said lightly. "But I'm alive."
The tension in Austin's shoulders eased instantly.
Victor stepped closer, carefully observing Evan from head to toe. His instincts screamed that the young man before him was no longer the same as before the awakening.
There was an intangible presence around him.
Not overwhelming.
But deep.
"Congratulations," Victor said slowly. "It seems your awakening was successful."
Evan inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you, Uncle Victor."
Austin leaned in eagerly. "So? What is it? What did you awaken?"
Victor also looked at Evan, curiosity evident in his eyes.
Evan had expected this question.
He answered without hesitation.
"Wind," he said. "High-level affinity."
The words were simple. Clean. Believable.
Victor studied him carefully, searching for any sign of deception. After a moment, he nodded.
"That aligns with your bloodline," he said. "Windborn families often awaken wind affinity. A high-level one would explain the disturbance."
Though a trace of doubt remained in Victor's heart, he did not press further. Awakening results could vary, and Evan's explanation was not unreasonable.
Austin grinned. "Nice! I knew you wouldn't awaken something boring."
Evan chuckled softly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The atmosphere relaxed considerably.
Victor allowed himself a small smile. "You did well. Both of you."
Then his tone shifted.
"There is something else you should know."
Austin straightened instinctively.
"Because of your top-grade fire affinity," Victor continued, "the elders have finalized the decision. You will not be attending Broken Sword Academy."
Austin's smile froze.
"…What?"
"You will be enrolled in Green Flame Palace," Victor said. "It specializes in fire-based cultivation and combat. It is one of the top three academies in the federation and better suited to your talent."
Evan's eyes lit up.
"That's amazing," he said sincerely. "Congratulations, Austin."
Green Flame Palace was renowned. For a fire awakener with top-grade affinity, it was arguably the best possible choice.
But Austin's expression darkened.
"…That means," he said slowly, "we won't be in the same academy."
Silence followed.
Evan's smile softened. "We'll still be in the same federation. It's not like we'll never see each other."
Austin forced a grin. "Yeah. Guess you're right."
Victor watched the exchange quietly, understanding more than he let on. Bonds like this were rare—and valuable.
Soon, servants arrived to handle the aftermath. Temporary coverings were erected, and Evan was escorted to another room so he could rest and recover.
As the door closed behind him, Evan finally allowed himself to relax.
He sat on the bed and summoned the interface once more.
The Star System Panel reappeared instantly.
Evan's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"This," he whispered, "is where everything changes."
He focused, ready to explore the mysteries hidden within the system—its functions, its limits, and the true nature of the power that had chosen him.
Outside, the stars continued to shimmer.
And somewhere beyond mortal sight, something ancient watched silently, as if waiting for Evan to take his first real step toward the path written among the heavens.